Young Volunteers are the Heart of Rebuild Upstate’s Story: 10 Years with Salkehatchie

Rebuild Upstate was founded in 2006 when a group of Clemson students led by fellow student Chris Manley decided they needed to do something to help those suffering in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. 

 

Young volunteers with a heart for service were and continue to be integral to the Rebuild Upstate story. 

Today, Rebuild Upstate continues to host more than 200 youth volunteers each year. In recognition of 20 years of Rebuild Upstate’s home repair program, we highlight the volunteers, donors, and community partners who have said “yes” to hard work and home repairs. One such organization with a long history of partnership and service is Piedmont Salkehatchie. 

For more than a decade, Rebuild Upstate and Piedmont Salkehatchie have partnered to make homes safer, build lasting relationships, and inspire the next generation of youth volunteers. Salkehatchie Summer Service is a church outreach program where youth and adults across the state of South Carolina volunteer their time and energy for seven days of service through home repair. There are various camps throughout the state, and with the support of Rebuild Upstate’s additional resources, the Piedmont camp has deepened its impact on neighborhoods in need. 

 

While Piedmont Salkehatchie provides the volunteers that serve as the hands and hearts behind each project, Rebuild Upstate equips them with the tools, trailers, materials, and expertise needed to tackle major repairs safely and efficiently. The two organizations work in tandem each summer to help several low-income families through home repairs, accessibility upgrades, and renovations. 

 

In June 2026, Piedmont Salkehatchie and Rebuild Upstate partnered together to complete major repairs on three homes in the Piedmont area. In one week, volunteers completely repaired two roofs, a carport, windows, and two bathrooms for three families. It is a hard, grueling week of labor, but rewarding. 

 

Year after year, youth and adults keep coming back to the camp to serve their low-income neighbors. When asked why, Graham Addis, a junior at Anderson University said, “It’s an insane amount of fun; there is always something to do to keep you busy. You make so many friends, help a neighbor in need, and it’s extremely rewarding to see what you can accomplish in a week”.

 

Volunteering isn’t just about completing the task; it is also about the connections you make while you help those who have waited a long time for help. That is the most rewarding part of volunteering, especially to Isabella Delong, a grad student at Emory University. “Building connections with the homeowners and seeing how our work impacts their daily life and hearing their stories has been really impactful. I think many people don’t realize that some homeowners wait for years to find someone to help them with their home. Some homeowners live with major damage to their home and have to just do their best until they find help living in conditions that are unsafe or inaccessible.” 

 

Farrah and Shirley, neighbors, are the recipients of Piedmont Salkehatchie’s 2026 volunteer service. Farrah and her husband Michael were scheduled to receive a new roof during the week. When additional volunteers signed up at the last minute, the camp had enough capacity to take on another project. Farrah spoke to her neighbor, and Shirley said “yes” to allowing the additional volunteers in her home. The students were able to fix a bathroom in her house that same week. Shirley said, “It’s almost like an extension of our family. We look out for each other.”

 

When asked about the volunteers, Shirley and Farrah had a lot to say. Shirley said, “Seeing the help that was there, the young people that came, the whole crew makes you more hopeful of what goes on in this world. They are so good and so kind”. Farah laughed and said, “They were like a bunch of ants! The girls outdid the boys a few days!”

 

Rebuild Upstate can say “yes” to youth volunteers and partnerships like Salkehatchie only because neighbors in need say “yes” and invite our work to their homes. 

 

If your church, business, or community group is looking for a meaningful way to serve, we’d love to have you join us. Together, we can continue building safer homes and stronger communities across the Upstate. Have a group that is interested in serving? Contact our volunteer team today!