FLEMING - July 21 through 28, five members of the Fleming Federated Church's youth group along with five adults will be hard at work in the Dominican Republic.

Diane Saxton, missions leader with the youth group said this will be the seventh year the church has sent a group out for the mission.

“I think this gives them a chance to see what life is like in a third world country,” Saxton said. “The annual income is about $600. It is very different than what we are used to here in this country and I think it helps these kids come back with a new perspective on their world. I think it has been a really good experience for all of them that have made the trip.”

Saxton's daughter, Jen, 22, has been a part of the group since its first trip seven years ago.

For her the experience has been one that has had significant impact on her own life and one that has kept her involved with the church's youth group and these trips.

“Each year it is different,” Jen said. “You meet so many different people and they are all so welcoming. And each year we are working on different projects and each time you go it is a different experience and it is so nice to be able to help.”

Saxton said that it costs $1,300 for tickets back and forth.

To help off set these expenses, the church hosts several fundraisers throughout the year.

Saturday afternoon, the church was again the sight of one massive fundraising effort, with a car wash, rummage sale and hot dogs and sodas for sale.

“We've done the rummage sale,” Saxton said. “And we've done the car washes and we do letter writing campaigns looking for sponsors for the trip. But this is the first time we've done all these things together. We just thought it would be a good idea to put them all together and see how it all worked out.”

While it was a slightly overcast and mildly rainy afternoon, Saxton believed the fundraiser was a success.

“I think it is going well,” Saxton said. “It has been a little slow on the car wash side, but it has been going well.”

For the past several years, Saxton said, the group has been helping work on a school that is being built, but this year they will shift focus and be working on running a summer camp.

Saxton hopes to be able to raise $4,000 to put toward the camp.

“We have a smaller group this year,” Saxton said. “So we aren't going to be able to do the heavier work on the school. But we are going to run a camp for about 100 kids. We thought that it would be a new and different idea. I think it will give all the kids a chance to see what are two cultures are like and give each of them a chance to learn more about each other.”

Members of the group come from not only the Fleming community, but also from surrounding communities and churches.

Cody Bradley, 15, of Newark, will be taking part in his first trip this summer.

“It sounded like it would be fun,” Bradley said. “I thought it would be a good chance to meet new people and to learn more about what is going on in the world and be able to help other people at the same time.”

Those that visited the car wash and sale not only found a few good bargains, but also found a chance to lend support to a good cause.

“We always want to help the youth,” Trudy Nelson of Poplar Ridge, said. “I don't think there is enough out there for them to do, I don't think we give them enough opportunities. They have all this energy and they should be putting it towards something positive like this.”

Saxton said that before the trip the youth group will be taking part in the Route 90 Garage Sale in Union Springs to continue to raise funds.