Shane Johns, 17, of Butler works on feminine hygiene kits, see top photo, to help Third World girls stay in school. The at-home mission work was a project of New Life Christian Ministries' youth ministry.

Mission trips, like charity, begin at home. At least that’s what Alex DeRosa, pastor of student ministries, believes.

And that’s why 35 sixth- through 12th-graders from New Life Christian Ministries, 139 Knoch Road, Saxonburg, were at the Children and Young Adult Center of Holy Sepulcher Roman Catholic Church in Middlesex Township last week working on a sewing machine assembly line.

The young crew from New Life were pitching in to help the Days for Girls International Valencia team prepare feminine hygiene kits to be delivered by missionaries traveling overseas.

Wendy Kovach, one of the organizers of the group of 45 women who meet every Monday to prepare the kits, is the connection to New Life, DeRosa said.

Kovach is a member of New Life and Days for Girls is her mission outreach, DeRosa said.

DeRosa said last week was an at-home mission trip. For a week, the youths slept at the church, showered at the nearby Knoch High School and spent the week on projects in and around Butler County.

This is an excerpt — pick up Sunday’s Butler Eagle to read the full article.