More than 80 middle school and high school students from Texas, New Mexico, and parts of Oklahoma have made their way to Bartlesville in order to help repair homes damaged by spring storms.
The student disaster recovery organization, Bounce, is affiliated with more than 5,300 churches in Texas and now leaders have crossed state lines to expand their efforts in neighboring states.
New Harmony Baptist Church Pastor, Lonnie Hoelscher, says the relationship between his church and Bounce began over a year ago and the connection will ultimately help fix dozens of homes in need of great repair.
“It's one thing to be able to pay for the materials to provide this ministry, but the real ministry is the man hours that it takes to do it especially when it's 96 degrees,” Hoelscher said.
Many students not only volunteered their time to help rehabilitate homes, but paid nearly $300.00 dollars in order to make the trip to Bartlesville.
New Mexico native, Jazmine Mata, says she is happy with the location Bounce picked for the mission based on the national news coverage Oklahoma received after suffering record storms.
“I know Oklahoma has been getting hit really hard lately and I was really glad we're coming here, in the heart of it all where it's all happening so we can really help people,” Mata said.
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