NATCHEZ &8212; The weather couldn&8217;t stop one balloon crew last weekend.

Sixteen youth from the Jefferson Street United Methodist Church youth group sent about 100 balloons on their way, leaving smiles behind them.

The teens visited five local nursing homes to distribute balloons &8212; helium, not hot-air &8212; to residents.

&8220;We wanted to bring it to the people who couldn&8217;t get to the balloons,&8221; youth group President Joanna David said.

The balloon distribution was a Natchez take on a statewide missions day for Methodist churches.

&8220;We really thought about it and (nursing home residents) are the people who have been here the longest, but weren&8217;t going to get to enjoy the races,&8221; David said.

The group distributed balloons from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, after blowing them up at the church first.

&8220;A lot of people were very appreciative,&8221; group member Kirby Richard said.

Richard, a junior at Cathedral School, said the teens took time to talk to residents about everything from food to football.

&8220;It&8217;s giving back to the community,&8221; she said. &8220;For me, it&8217;s rewarding. I think it&8217;s important to do some kind of mission work.&8221;

The Jefferson Street group also carols at nursing homes around Christmastime.

Other service projects for the group include work with Habitat for Humanity, the Stewpot and the Boys & Girls Club. They also do summer mission projects and visited the Gulf Coast to help out after Katrina last year.

Youth group members are in grades seven through 12.

Members participating in Saturday&8217;s balloon distribution include: Richard, David, Grant Benoit, Guy Wimberly, Yei Thomas, Jackson Weldon, Mary LaFrancis, Martin Charboneau, Caitlin Lofton, Caroline Schmitz, Adams Blackwell, Chesley Coffey, Madeline Jeansonne, Nolan Vaughan, Nathan Leigh and Patsy Coffey. The youth group&8217;s leader is John Hudson.