OXFORD — Shingle scraps littered the ground and volunteers worked to replace them here Tuesday at a World Changers site.

Michael Kravchenko, 18, hoisted a ladder and got ready to climb back up on the roof. The Dahlonega, Ga., resident is one of 275 teens and adults in Anniston and Oxford this week helping out locals.

Kravchenko has replaced two other roofs, both on mission trips like World Changers.

"I'm not that good at talking about stuff," he said. "I've always been really into service. I like to use action to show my faith."

Geri Hughes, 79, said she felt blessed to have the young people helping her. Hughes said a bunch of shingles blew off earlier this year and she knew her 17-year-old roof needed some work.

"I'll tell you right now," she said, "they have worked their little hearts out."

This is Hughes' third experience with World Changers. In 2005, a group painted the exterior of her home. Another group painted the interior in 2006.

"I thank God for them," she said. "I think it's a blessing, a miracle."

Daphne Davies, spokeswoman for the group, said 25 crews are working on 25 different sites around Anniston and Oxford.

Jobs include painting, building wheelchair ramps and putting siding on peoples' homes, she said.

The cities of Anniston and Oxford chose which homes World Changers would work on, Davies said.

World Changers participants are staying at Greenbrier Road Baptist Church, Davies said. Other local churches sponsor crews by bringing them lunch each day.

The group will be here through Saturday.