Huguenot Fundraises for Summer Mission Trips at Local Shops

In an effort to raise money for its two summer mission trips, will set up three fundraising posts around Pelham on Saturday morning.

Come July, about 50 Pelham teens will travel either to Elizabeth City, NC or Ticuantepe, Nicaragua, to help communities in need for one week. The trip to North Carolina costs about $500 per participant and the trip to Nicaragua costs $1,000 per student. To make sure that every teen who wants to go, can afford to partake, Huguenot is organizing several fundraising initiatives. One such intiative will take place on Saturday morning, from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. when shoppers can donate to the “Buy a Brick” campaign at , and .

Students traveling to Elizabeth City will have a chance to repair homes for the elderly and the disabled. Among many tasks, they’ll be painting and building ramps. Those who are participating in the trip to Nicaragua—which is only open to high school juniors and seniors—will contribute to building up impoverished communities.

“It’s pretty amazing to say, ‘When I left there was a handicap ramp.’ You can see the tangible change,” remarked the Rev. Jacob Bolton who will be attending both mission trips.

Those who contribute the suggested $10 to the mission campaign on Saturday will receive a certificate and a letter from a participant while they are away.

Though this is Bolton’s first time traveling with Huguenot, he’s participated in similar programs and has an idea as to how the students will benefit from the trips.

“It’s neat for them to experience that kind of work—getting their hands dirty. It’s rewarding,” Bolton said. “They can reflect a little bit on what it means to help others and also start to think about how service and faith are not just something that happen on Sunday. That’s incredible.”