Sojourners mobilizes staff, program participants, and volunteers to complete a service project on Make A Difference Day each October.
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Volunteers paint Cox |
In 2004 Sojourners and the Vinton County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, sponsored by many Vinton County businesses and organizations, restored the Cox Covered Bridge, one of five covered bridges in Vinton County. The project was chosen as one of ten, out of 883 projects in Ohio, to win a state award. The Cox Covered Bridge is located just south of SR 56 on north SR 93.
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Hope Furnace is renovated |
On Make A Difference Day 2005 volunteers from Sojourners, the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, and the community restored Hope Furnace in Lake Hope State Park, one of only a few extant iron furnaces in Ohio.
In 2006, Sojourners and the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau created Hope Park on the footprint of the Lake Hope Lodge which burned to the ground early in 1996. A shelter house was built to protect interpretive signage which tells the story of the Lodge. Hope Park will provide a pleasant common area for visitors and keep the story of this much-loved building alive.
On MADD 2008 Sojourners chose to participate in three projects spread out over the region. The Appalachian MentorCorps assisted the organizers of the Healthy and Safe Kidsfest at the St. Sylvester Parish Hall in Zaleski. Members helped with set up, ran games for the children, and assisted DeeJay Rockin’ Reggie.
The Ohio Outback Conservation Corps, worked with members of the Buckeye Trail Association and the North Country Trail Association on a stretch of the Buckeye Trail near Pike Lake in Ross County. Members cleared brush and provided general trail clearing and maintenance.
Members and staff of Sojourners’ Youthbuild program helped out a family in rural Vinton County. The Youthbuild crew tore down an unsafe barn, cleared the area of brush, and disposed of the remnants of the barn and other unused lumber.
Links
www.usaweekend.com/diffday
www.serveohio.org/MDDO/makediffday