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Home | News > Wesley Woods cooperation with work-release program a win-win

Wesley Woods cooperation with work-release program a win-win

09/30/10
By Ellen Dragonetti

"Good stuff" is going on at Wesley Woods Conference Center in Williams Bay, WI on beautiful Geneva Lake. 2010 brought about an addition to our year-round staff here at camp.

Site Director, Jeff Fry, has always embraced the notion that “many hands make light work” was a powerful mantra and just made good sense. When he made the decision to create a “win-win” situation here on site, he never knew how truly rewarding it would be for all involved. This spring, he contacted a local work-release facility for those working with the court system to do their “time” (for lesser/misdemeanor offenses) by giving back to the community.

Jeff asked for a handful of hard-working, able-bodied men to be released to our camp to complete a variety of job tasks. Cutting, stacking and hauling of wood for our “green” boiler system to heat our lodges, re-roofing one of our lodges, building our charming chapel in the woods, remodeling our oldest and largest building, and painting all buildings in need of a new facelift. Two certified HVAC technicians inspected all of the furnaces and air conditioners and the workers even rebuilt an inboard boat engine and fixed five boats that have been donated to camp over the years.

The money our camp has saved by working with these resourceful men was only the beginning of the many blessings that were received.  The Men’s Community Service group found a connection and foundation to build upon for themselves, while working to rebuild their lives. Wesley Woods was able to offer them 3 wonderful meals a day (above and beyond what they were accustomed to), which brought them great joy and fueled their bodies & minds. The sense of accomplishment they received fueled their souls, and caused them to request to come back to camp to work until their day of release (some  have come back even after that!). Two men are here at Wesley Woods working 40 hours a month in exchange for room and board while looking for jobs and getting their lives back on track.

It felt good for Wesley Woods to place faith & trust in them, and give them a chance to prove their worth. Nothing is better than knowing others have faith in you, and that brings about renewed faith in yourself.