VMY volunteers in Kansas

With the hardships that have fallen across our nation this last year, there are many who use their time, talent and treasures to the benefit of their fellow man. The Vincentian Marian Youth, a youth organization in Missouri, will spend a weeklong mission reaching out to others.

This year's Operation Overhaul 2010, will be in Baxter Springs, Kan., June 20 to 26. More than 100 youth and adult chaperones will pack up their tools and supplies to serve the needs of the people in the Baxter Springs area. Youth from several counties throughout Missouri will be participating in this years' Operation Overhaul Mission. The mission group has traveled to New Orleans after Katrina, downtown Chicago and Southwest Missouri.

This will be the sixth Operation Overhaul VMY has undertaken since its founding. The theme this year, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior," will be a time of building homes and building relationships. Each year is a unique experience and the teenagers and adults who sacrifice this week in service to others receive so much more than the sweat and hard work they give to those less fortunate.

In Baxter Springs, the youth will be repairing damaged homes and buildings, cutting trees and other general yard work and house cleaning. They will also build a 10-by-50-foot addition to one facility that serves the community. In addition, they work with the homeless and other not-for-profit organizations.

Through the generosity of the First Assembly of God and Trinity Worship Center, the group has floor space for sleeping and eating. They will also have the opportunity to experience and learn about the Neutral Lands Cherokee. One evening, they will share in singing, drumming, smudging and dancing-Neutral Lands Cherokee style.

There will not be television cameras on this "makeover" team, like reality TV shows, but this will be a true reality of giving back to one another. For more information or to help the mission group, contact Neutral Lands Cherokee at 620-856-3400 or Vincentian Marian Youth at 573-547-3300.

This story was submitted to "Your Stories" by an seMissourian.com user.