ABOUT THE SITE WE ARE ATTENDING
Winchester is a historic town where both bluegrass and Southern hospitality abound. They are also known for their Ale-8-One soft drink that dates to 1926, the only soft drink invented in Kentucky that is still around today. Group Workcamps has been in Winchester over 14 years. The hard work of those participants is remembered and, in fact, the reason we’ve been invited back.

You will discover that although Winchester is a few short miles off the highway, they are not out of reach or out of touch. In this historic town and the surrounding rural countryside of rolling hills, residents just need a little help and hope.

HOW YOU’LL SERVE
You’ll be working throughout the city to do various home repairs projects for residents. At the Winchester KY Workcamp, your group will demonstrate Jesus’ love and compassion in tangible ways, serving real people in need while working on projects like…

– Building wheelchair ramps and handrails
– Weatherizing homes and trailers
– Reconstructing sagging porches
– Significant painting projects
– Interior and exterior carpentry
– Other home repair projects that the homeowner cannot otherwise complete

WHO CAN ATTEND
All high school age teens are eligible to attend the mission trip. Must be at least 14 years old OR entering the 9th grade in the fall of the same year as your trip. Graduated Seniors (Spring 2024) may also attend. College students (ages 18-24) may also attend as leaders for our group—only a limited amount of college students will be accepted.

COST AND FUNDRAISING FOR THE TRIP

The cost for the trip is $650 per teen ($350 for college students) but fundraising can reduce that amount greatly. This amount includes not only the participant fee for the workcamp, but all of the other common costs like transportation, rooming, meals at the camp, the free day activity and other associated community costs.  The various fundraisers we hold throughout the year, such as Pie Sale, Poinsettia Sale, Mission Trip Weekend, Aurora Day of Service, Bake Sale and the Rummage Sale are for the purpose of lowering that cost for the teens.

The full cost ($650.00) of the trip will be expected from each student.  For each fundraiser worked, a TBD amount of money (Based on the profitability of the fundraiser) will be added to the individual’s trip account.  The overall goal is to provide enough opportunities for everyone to significantly reduce their out of pocket costs.

One of the most significant secondary benefits to participating in these fundraisers is the community building within the group that will be attending the mission trip together.  Thus, we would love to have everyone participate in all of the fundraising activities.  Unfortunately, we know that for various reasons, we have not been able to achieve that full participation.  With the past system, a lack of participation meant that a smaller group of people were working very hard for the benefit of the entire group.  As we all know, many hands make light work.  This approach to fundraising is intended to encourage a greater degree of participation in the overall fundraising effort.  Participation in individual fundraisers is NOT a requirement, but a choice to “add funds to the student’s account”.  Those that cannot or choose not to participate in fundraising will still be responsible for paying their portion of the overall mission trip costs, so the burden is shared equally by all participants.

With this policy, we ask that ALL participants pay an initial non-refundable deposit of $50.00 which will be credited to the students account. This amount will hold our spots with the work camp organization. You may check the balance on your account at anytime by contacting Dave in the youth ministry office. The final payment will be DUE after our last fundraising event.

A NOTE ABOUT FUNDRAISING
If a student raises over the $650.00 cost for the trip, that positive balance up to $300.00 will be credited to a future trip or placed in the Mission Trip Scholarship/Grant fund. Funds can be transferred to siblings only. Please contact us if there are any questions or if there is a financial need—we want any and all teens to experience this great event!

Fundraisers

1. Pie Sale – October/November
2. Mission Trip Weekend (Winter)
3. Fish Dinners (Lent)
4. Aurora Day of Service (Spring)
5. Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast
6. Bake Sale (Spring)
7. Rummage Sale (June)

We will send out an email before each fundraiser asking for volunteers and giving specific details. Teens/Parents will need to sign-up ASAP to get an open spot on the fundraiser.