Veteran's service project set to gear up

GOSHEN Aging veterans may not have to clean their gutters this spring.

Instead, a group of young men will perform weekly handyman services for the areas aging vets, thanks to a new partnership between Celebrate America and Teen Challenge.

Teen Challenge is a drug and alcohol recovery center that uses a comprehensive Christian approach to healing, according to its mission statement. Its Elkhart branch consists of males in their 20s. Teen Challenge students learn to cope with everyday issues while growing spiritually, emotionally, socially, educationally and physically. But now, the students are focusing on serving others.

The guys do work projects every day, said Eric Swanson, the program director of North Central Indiana Teen Challenge. Were going to incorporate Celebrate America to find veterans who need assistance.

The partner, Celebrate America, is the nonprofit organization that puts on the fireworks display at the Black Squirrel Golf Club, an annual event with an estimated 20,000 attendees. Now they are helping organize this initiative one that has a more lasting effect.

Its founder, Al Lane, has been a driving force behind the veteran service project. Lane served in World War II and has since appreciated being treated with special respect.

I realized there were elderly veterans, some of whom needed help with physical needs around the house or the yard, Lane said.

Lane added that he decided to start working with Teen Challenge after he saw the success theyve had helping young men grow into responsible young citizens.

Teen Challenge promotes a life in accordance with what the Bible teaches, and servitude is a part of it. Serving others is a method that Teen Challenge uses to transcend the selfishness of addictions.

We have a faith-based approach to recovery, said Swanson. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says if any man is in Christ he is a new creation. The old has gone and the new has come.

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Veteran's service project set to gear up