Baltimore County Christian Workcamp

“Workcamp is often hard work and the weather conditions and work environment may not be that great; however, it is satisfying to truly help someone to have a better quality of life, as well as following the many biblical admonitions to help one’s neighbor.”

The task of Baltimore County Christian Workcamp (BCCW) is to share the love of Christ by assisting limited-income families in Baltimore County with home improvements by volunteers of all ages. The mission is one of Hunt’s major outreach projects and one of its oldest. Hunt’s has supported BCCW since its founding in 1984 by two Methodist pastors. Since 1992, the work camp has been based at Hunt’s Church (half of our garage is for BCCW supplies).

The Workcamp is held during one week in July and on a limited basis the rest of the year. BCCW is a “commuter’s workcamp” where you can commit to working as little as one-half day and sleep in your own bed at night.

Pre-COVID, each year, 150-250 volunteers of all ages would repair and improve over 50 houses in Baltimore County. There would be a kick-off dinner/orientation with a silent auction at Hunt’s on Sunday, breakfasts each morning at Hunt’s with lunch supplies, evening dinners at different churches and locations, with an ending meeting and communion on Friday evening. Volunteers would work Monday-Friday on various inside and outside projects, including, but not limited to, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, ceilings, walls, roofs, porches, steps, insulation, general clean-up, interior and exterior painting, caulking, ramps, yard work. During the first three years after COVID emerged, the “social” activities greatly decreased (none in 2020 and then an outdoor kick-off dinner in 2021 and 2022, and an outdoor closing lunch in 2022), as well as an emphasis more on outside projects (e.g., only outside projects in 2020). Subsequently, the “social” activities have expanded; some have been modified that have not worked out. Unfortunately, the overall participation, including church groups, have drastically decreased from pre-COVID times, plus the aging out or loss of some of the participants, including some “skilled” craftsmen, have reduced the type of work that BCCW is able to do. Notwithstanding, BCCW continues; BCCW will do what they can with whoever shows with whatever skill set they bring.

As a result, BCCW  now has a “hybrid” system that will be reviewed each year. The 41st annual BCCW in 2024 will occur from Sunday July 21 to Saturday July 27. On Sunday, at Hunt’s, there will be  a planning meeting, kick-off dinner, and orientation. From Monday-Friday, volunteers will go directly from their homes to the work sites. On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, there will be an optional dinner at host churches. On Saturday afternoon, there will be a closing lunch at another church with a power-point display of photographs of work done during the week, ending with a communion service.

Volunteers choose their site and the type of work, based on what they like to do and/or location of the work site. Some churches may bring entire work crews and pre-select their sites. Hunt’s assembles a crew from Hunt’s members, augmented by other volunteers, and selects one or more sites; typically, especially for the past ten years or so, we have been doing outside projects, primarily the construction of new ramps and repair of ramps. Following are the “Hunt’s” sites since 2013; some of the ramps also included landings, porch overlays, repair of or addition of steps, gates on the ramp, wedge ramps on porches, etc.:

• 2023: 25’ ramp in Edmondson Heights in Catonsville and 58’ one in Randallstown, plus a  65‘ ramp in Overlea in October
• 2022: 81’ ramp in Catonsville and 67’ one in Randallstown (needed 1/2 day on Saturday to finish); plus railings for steps in Dundalk in October
• 2021: 66’ ramp in Randallstown and extensive repair of a 56’ one in Edgemere
• 2020: 36’ ramp in Rosedale (COVID year)
• 2019: 77’ ramp in Pikesville and 49’ one in Halethorpe (plus extensive deck repair)
• 2018: 78’ ramp in Dundalk and 59’ in east Towson, plus a 56’ one in Dundalk in November
• 2017: 47’ ramp in Edgemere and 46’ in Lansdowne
• 2016: 164’ ramp system (of which 99’ was a “boardwalk” ramp) in Gwynn Oak (BCCW’s longest ever ramp system and was its most expensive one too.)
• 2015: 44’ ramp in Windsor Mill and 73’ one in Pikesville
• 2014: 61’and 14’ ramps at the same location in Rosedale, and a 27’ one in Eastpoint
• 2013: 46’ ramp in Essex and 45’ one in Edgemere

Hunt’s members may elect to work on a “Hunt’s” site or choose another site. Online registration is required; however, because half of Hunt’s Advent and Lenten special offerings are designated for BCCW, Hunt’s members pay no registration fee. (Actually, for 2024, BCCW has opted to waive registration fees, albeit registration is still required. Donations are always welcomed.) In addition, the Carroll’s-Gill’s Permanent Endowment Fund has generously supported BCCW for many years.

Mission Highlight

Hunt’s is excited to be participating in the Baltimore County Christian Workcamp again this year in late July. The 41st annual BCCW will look different again from pre-COVID, as well as the 2020-2023 years; but the mission will still be the same, i.e., repairing houses for the needy by volunteers of all ages. For more information on BCCW, please visit the BCCW Website. You can also check out the Hunt’s Missions bulletin board, or contact Glenn Keatts (Hunt’s crew chief), Steve Lippy (BCCW secretary and Hunt’s liaison with BCCW), or Howard Lin (BCCW’s photographer).

Photo Gallery