MOUNT HEALTHY — The peeling paint chips signal that Ernst Dasch's house needs a fresh coat of white.

        “I can't paint — I never attempt that anymore,” said the 78-year-old Mount Healthy resident. “It needs paint real bad, but right now, I haven't had the finances to do it.”

Tim Wilson, from Acworth, Ga., unloads luggage at North Middle School, where he's staying with teens as part of World Changers this week. (Greg Ruffing photo) | ZOOM |

        Mr. Dasch needn't worry. This week about 250 teens from across the country are volunteering their time to paint Mr. Dasch's house and improve nearly 20 other Mount Healthy homes.

        The teens are participating in World Changers, a non-profit outreach ministry project of the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.

        Throughout the week, youngsters from Ohio, Georgia, Tennessee, Okalahoma, North Carolina and West Virginia will be painting, repairing windows, painting walls, fixing roofs and building wheelchair ramps for Mount Healthy community members who are unable to or cannot afford to do it themselves.

        “There's a sense that we are changing the world one community at a time — and it's going to change their lives for certain,” said Dennis Holmes of the Baptist Association of Greater Cincinnati.

        Each teen paid $265 to participate. They will live and worship at Mount Healthy North Middle School.

        Local churches from several denominations are providing on-site lunches. Construction materials and equipment were donated.

        Tim Rice of Milford, 16, was the only member from First Baptist Church of Mount Repose who was able to get one of the quickly filled spots.

        “I want to help people out,” he said. “I was already interested in construction. It sounded like fun.”

        While this is the first year for the program in Greater Cincinnati, World Changers has worked on more than 6,500 homes nationwide since 1990. This summer volunteers will be in 93 communities.

        Amber Clay, 14, of Tulsa, Okla., helped out with World Changers in Tennessee last year. She wanted to be part of the experience again.

        “I really want to work on someone's house,” Amber said. “You're all hot and sweaty — and you still can see God working.”

Cutting through the pain
Reasons vary, but forms of self-mutilation date back centuries
Leaders stand by keeping libraries
Popular Miami professor, a 'Renaissance lady,' killed
A rash of smash and grab
Bristol's acquittal prompts second thoughts
Huff removes chief badge
Obituary: Michael Soldano, 'conduit to God'
Safety a perfect fit
Sisters of Charity gather for reunion
Teens pay to paint, help out
Tristate A.M. Report
HOWARD: Some Good News
PULFER: Pinching pennies
SMITH AMOS: Salvation in OTR
Bank plans to open 1951 time capsule
Two delinquent fathers extradited to Butler Co.
Columbus airport's federal screeners ready
Dayton bids downtown shopping adieu
With West Nile virus threat, cities debate spraying mosquitoes
Empty mall gets new lease on life
Health care centers update, merge