FAIRHOPE, Ala. — A large group of teens lived up to their name last week in Fairhope and other parts of Baldwin County — they had heart.

St. Lawrence Catholic Church hosted and housed the 130 teens and 20 team leaders with HEART (Helping Everyone Attain Repairs Today) for a week while the teens helped groups like Eastern Shore Affordable Houses, Community Action of Baldwin County and Head Start accomplish their tasks.

HEART teams have been coming to Baldwin County for about 10 years, said Sister Julie Guillot, who administers Eastern Shore Affordable Houses. HEART is a national Catholic organization that sends Catholic teenage volunteers from across America to week-long work retreats to help others and enjoy spiritual enrichment activities.

A large number of the Fairhope-based group worked several days at St. Joseph’s Way, a small subdivision of low-income housing, developed by Sister Julie and ESAH.

“They completed about 95 percent of the work we had planned for them,” Sister Julie said.

Despite the sweltering, 90-plus degree temperatures, the group working at St. Joseph’s Way last Wednesday were full of energy and good spirits.

Currently, there are six homes roughly sited in a circle around a central greenspace playground. One empty lot remains. All of the houses were moved in from other areas on the Eastern Shore by ESAH. Although they vary somewhat in size, on average they are about 1,100 square feet.

Suddenly, a group cheer emanated from within one of the houses:

“We’ve got spirit, yes we do,

We’ve got spirit, how about you?”

The question was quickly answered from another house further down the circle:

“We’ve got Jesus, yes we do,

We’ve got Jesus, how about you?”

The volunteers worked inside painting, cleaning cabinets, mopping floors and cleaning appliances. Outside, others painted exteriors, put up fencing, pulled nails from recycled, donated materials and sorted and stored lumber for future use.

In addition to working at St. Joseph’s Way, HEART team members traveled to Bay Minette to work with Head Start. They also helped Community Action of Baldwin County by washing trailers and painting the homes of some elderly residents, as well as clearing some land. In Loxley, they built a wheelchair ramp.

Adult volunteers have helped Sister Julie accomplish the rewiring and replumbing work needed for each of the homes, ensuring that all are brought up to current code requirements.

“All the houses are furnished with heating and air conditioning, refrigerator, washer, dryer and stove,” she said. “If kitchen space permits, a dishwasher is included, too,” she said.

Over the next month, three of the houses will be ready for purchase. Sister Julie said that some of the houses are currently occupied by folks who are renting to get their credit in shape to qualify for a mortgage.

Anyone interested in applying for one of these mortgages should apply to: ESAH, P.O. Box 2804, Daphne, AL 36526-2804.