Perry, FL (SYP) – July 5 – 11, 2026

This was the third week of the 2026 SYP in Perry, FL.  Leadership team: Lowell Peachey, PD; Rita Peachey, OM; Val and Lynn Kipfer, Head Cook and Assistant Cook, respectively; and Lukas Houben, Christopher Stoltzfus and John Glick, Crew Leaders. There were two groups who came for the week: youth groups from Grace Mennonite and First Mennonite in Bluffton OH. There were three active job sites during the week: one that started on Monday, and none completed.

One crew continued rebuilding the house belonging to Curtis and Teresa.  Vanities were installed in three bathrooms; steel rafters were boxed/finished using rough trim lumber provided by the owners; railing was installed on the interior staircase and landing with driftwood scavenged and provided by the owners; and began installing LVP. Primary ongoing work will be LVP installation, installing kitchen counters, and installing siding.

Linda’s home was the number two job that involves complete renovation of the floor throughout the house due to significant water/moisture damage. Nearly all the new subfloor was installed, and the crew began installing LVP. Kitchen ceiling drywall was removed, replaced with new, and painted.  Old furnace and water heater were removed to make way for new units to be provided by owner and her family.  The remaining work includes finishing the LVP installation, finishing fastening T1-11 siding all around the house (that was installed by an outside “contractor”, and installing soffit material around the outside of the house.  An outside contractor will be installing a new roof this week as well.

Bonnie’s kitchen remodel began this week which involves replacing some subfloor in the kitchen and repairing damage to the roof rafters and kitchen ceiling.  Old subfloor material was removed, floor joists were repaired and strengthened, and new subfloor installed.  Remaining work included raising and strengthening the smashed rafters, installing insulation and drywall in the kitchen, installing LVP, and building an exterior ramp to the front door using owner provided materials, and replacing the front door.

Theme of the week once again was safety (including hydration), learning something new, and have fun! One of the challenges in the youth program is balancing teaching new skills and allowing for a variety of experiences, e.g., participating with a different crew, working in another job site, learning multiple skills, etc.  All the crews were of one mind to work on the same crew for the week in order to be able to experience the satisfaction of starting a work and seeing the progress made from Monday through Friday.