Summertime is a good time for some local residents who will be the beneficiaries of free home improvements.

More than 300 teens and adults from churches around the country are volunteering their time in June to spruce up about 40 homes for the elderly, handicapped and lower-income residents in Pensacola.

Repairs and improvements will include, among other things, exterior painting, weatherization, porch and wheelchair ramp construction.

The volunteer effort is organized by Group Cares, formerly known as Group Workcamps Foundation, an interdenominational Christian nonprofit group based in Loveland, Colo.

In the upcoming summer, an estimated 25,000 youth and adults will participate in 48 work camps in communities across the U.S. and Canada.

In Pensacola alone, their efforts will represent about 10,000 hours of volunteer labor with an estimated economic impact to the community of more than $250,000.

The work camp is sponsored by GRACE of Pensacola, a group of local churches and nonprofit agencies that have joined for the Group Cares Project and is lead by Christ Church in Pensacola.

The mission of GRACE is to serve Pensacola residents by providing home repair to citizens who can’t provide for themselves.

Volunteers still are needed to assist in pressure washing the selected home sites during the week before the youth groups arrive.

To participate or for more information, call Warren Jerrems at (850) 586-1030.

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