West Virginia University will help a national youth organization build community support once that group arrives on campus for a two-week stay Sunday, July 29.

About 400 youth from across the country, participating in Group Workcamp Foundationa Colorado-based, nonprofit Christian service organizationwill stay at WVU while they repair about 70 local homes of residents physically or financially unable to perform their own work.

“We are extremely pleased to help support this important service and community action effort,”said Amir Mohammadi, associate vice president for Student Affairs.”Not only is this a wonderful activity that engages our nations youth in a worthwhile endeavor, it also helps the community in which many WVU employees and students reside. We are proud to lend our support.”

WVU preparations are under way now for the programs opening Sunday, said Kathy Nicholas, WVU conference planner.

“We expect participants to begin checking into Bennett and Lyon Towers early Sunday,”Nicholas said.”The residence halls are ready, and we are eager for their arrival.”

Staying in residence halls may be quite a step up for these industrious and good-hearted youth, Nicholas said.

“From what I know of this program, most times the kids stay in high school gyms,”she noted.

The groups upcoming visit is one of eight taking place in the Appalachian region this summer. Youth between the ages of 14-19 will help low-income, elderly and disabled residents with home repairs ranging from carpentry and roof repair to building wheelchair ramps and fixing windows.

They will provide more than $80,000 worth of materials and volunteer labor free to the homeowner.

The North Central West Virginia Community Action Inc. also is helping to sponsor the Workcamp visit.

For more information, contact Student Affairs, 304-293-4409, ext. 2577 or Group Workcamp, 1-800-635-0404.