Photo by Travis Pratt Waterboyz for Jesus member, Victor Dominic Gonzalez, sprays primer on a ceiling at Faith Home Ministries in Clarksburg, a project recently taken on by the Waterboyz.

But even before the holidays, members of the Waterboyz for Jesus were busy putting finishing touches on an addition to the Shives Home in Clarksburg, drywalling and painting a new second floor for the shelter for women and children.

Waterboyz for Jesus started five years ago and is essentially a Bible study group of men from a variety of Christian denominations, said Paul Foss, the group's president.

"Our purpose is to suck the cynicism out of the world by using Jesus' hand to plant good seeds," Foss said. "The sweet spot of our service work is single mom's with kids -- we want to pick up the slack where other men have let them down."

Last year, for example, the Waterboyz for Jesus worked with Hope Alive, a Frederick women's shelter and Christian-based ministry at Christmas, Foss said.

The study groups, which are mostly based in Frederick, with 300 or so local men involved, have spread to Texas, Egypt, India and South Africa, and meet once a week.

Each month, the groups, or tables, typically consisting of about 10 men, join forces and do a service project. Past efforts have included a house makeover for a widow and a yard cleanup for an elderly woman, Foss said.

In 2007, Waterboyz raised about $25,000 in donations and also brought gifts and food to 12 families at Christmas time, Foss said.

Despite recent economic hardships, the group expanded its reach to include 25 families in 2008, and this season will bring Christmas trees, gifts and food baskets to 30-plus families.

"Butler's Orchard has agreed to give us some trees and this Saturday will be cutting them down and delivering them with Christmas tree stands," said Dave Burg, a Waterboyz for Jesus member for about two years.

Burg, who said he had once been in a motorcycle gang and once had a drug problem, previously told The News-Post he had been moving toward a group like Waterboyz as a way of changing the direction of his life.

"It's something I've been looking for a long time," Burg said.

Service work is a part of the real meaning of Christmas, said Foss. He stressed, however, the effort is about giving and not proselytizing

"No preaching," said Foss, just laughter and fun."

On Dec. 19, the Waterboyz will be meeting at Monocacy Valley Church at 9 a.m. to divide up the toys, presents and food baskets, including ham and turkey dinners, they will deliver to area families.

"We'll meet at Monocacy Valley and sing some Christmas carols, pray and have some fun," Burg said. Then we'll go out and most of us will probably sing some more Christmas carols to the families we deliver the gifts and food baskets to."

News-Post reporter Nicholas C. Stern contributed to this story.