J.L. Tippett Construction company employees recently participated in the 17th Annual Arlington Diocese Summer Work Camp. This was the 15th consecutive year employees from Tippett Construction joined other area volunteers by donating time and experience to the week long camp, sponsored by the Catholic Diocese Office of Youth Activities. The work camp is designed for local high school youths, adults and contractor volunteers to work on “habitat for humanity” type repair projects for the needy. For one week, 460 youths left behind swimming pools, soccer practice, sleeping late and air conditioning to “camp out” on the floors of Orange High School. For the third year in a row, the work was centered in central Virginia. This included Orange, Madison, Culpepper and Greene counties. This year the number of projects was increased to 90 projects. The volunteers toiled in code orange air quality weather as the thermometer reached the mid to upper 90’s.
The projects ranged from minor home repairs, painting, roof repairs, handicap ramps and porch repairs. These projects offered the youth volunteers a chance to work on projects for the elderly, needy and physically challenged. Work crews of 5 youths worked with adult leaders and volunteer contractors (such as Tippett Construction).
Tippett Construction employees: Jay Tippett, Matt Brown and Michael Raso, provided on site guidance, their own sweat equity, tools and equipment for work crew #50. Tippett employees were assigned the task of assisting on multiple projects on the same house. Several of the projects were due to water damage as a result of several roof leaks over an extended period of time. While the roofing material was replaced earlier by the local social service agencies, the damaged areas were in dire need of repair. One project was repairing the bathroom floor, ceiling and walls that were damaged due to a significant rook leak. Other projects on the house included replacing an exterior door, repairing drywall damage in the ceiling due to other roof leaks, repairing the front door of the house and installing gutters and downspouts on the house. The hazy and stagnant air did not seem to overwhelm the “campers” who joyfully carried out their tasks. Once again, the volunteers put their hearts and “sweat equity” into their projects while seeing them to completion.