PORTAGE | Instead of hitting the beach or loafing on the couch, these youths are pounding nails, digging holes with augers and pouring cement.
They're not getting paid, and they're doing it because they want to just help.
Lakeshore Area Regional Recovery of Indiana, or LARRI, formed to assist in the region's recovery from the widespread flooding of September 2008. The group returned last year and this week is bringing in some 400 youth volunteers to complete community outreach projects.
The youths came from national groups such as Lutheran Hands, Southern Baptist World Changers and Americorps, in addition to LARRI's normal crew of 100 volunteers. The partnership ensured more help to go around for community projects in need of volunteers.
"When the flood of 2008 hit, there were almost 18,000 families who applied for FEMA assistance. And I don't think most people realize the enormity of it because you can't see it anymore. It's all inside. But people's foundations are destroyed, and we are called to do the repair work for those who don't have the ability to help themselves -- truly the most vulnerable people," said Jane Delligatti, LARRI's executive director.
"We have probably another 500 more cases to do construction on, and each day we work on about 90 to 100 sites," she said. "We reached out across the country and we got a response we never dreamed possible. They all decided to come in the same week, and they have come to help people in need."
One of those projects, building a fence at Imagination Glen Park's soccer fields in Portage, used college-aged students and those just out of high school, said Jim Franzen, foreman for the Portage Parks and Recreation Department.
"This fence will keep the cars from driving on the fields. This is the park department's busy time of the season and so this helps us so we can keep up with our other projects," he said. "We wouldn't have staff to do this in a timely manner otherwise and we really appreciate all of the help."
Franzen said the fences will help to maintain the condition of the fields and ensure the safety of the children.
Harry Aungst, of Americorps, said his crew came from all over the country, including Washington state, Northern Virginia and Colorado.
"We are working through LARRI and for the most part they tend to do more home restoration and flood work, but they also are doing more community development work," Aungst said.
It's that community work that Craig Stetler, an organizer with Lutheran Hands, says his 175 youth volunteers from central Pennsylvania enjoy.
"These kids gave up their summer when they could be hanging out with friends or going to the pool, but they're out here helping," said Stetler whose group is staying at a nearby church.
Kelly Tocket, a college senior from Mechanicsburg, Pa., said, "It's an opportunity to come together for a common goal, to help out communities."
Other projects this week include restoration work at Seberger, Gleason and Linear Parks in Gary; Riverview Park in Lake Station; Washington Park in East Chicago and work at Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana sites in Cedar Lake, East Chicago, Gary and Hammond.
In addition to the teams of volunteers, Delligatti said the community also came together to raise the money for the projects.
"All of the monies for these nonflood projects and community projects have come from Home Depot and fundraising, so we have remained faithful to the fund money we received from (Eli Lilly) through the United Ways of Northwest Indiana for the flood victims," she said. "We are so thankful to have all of the help and it makes desperate situations easier when everyone comes together."
