ABOUT US!
Friends of Appalachia, Inc. (FOA) is a Trumbull, Connecticut based Public Charity 501(c)(3), and is registered with the State of Connecticut. FOA is a community organization, open to all, which strives to educate and sensitize youth and adult volunteers to address the needs of the impoverished people in Central Appalachia.
FOA's 2025 Board Members
Lisa Peters - President, T-Shirt/Trip Coordinator
Avery Peters - Vice-President, Communications Coordinator, Center Director, Trip Coordinator
Vera Dosky - Treasurer
Kyle Peters - Secretary, Construction Training Coordinator, Trip Floater
Paul Angelucci - Devo Co-Coordinator, Trip Coordinator
Katie Boland - Community Outreach Coordinator, Trip Coordinator, THS Liaison
Chris Capobianco - Coffee Coordinator, Construction Training
Laura Macfarlane - THS Liaison, Logo Designer
John Dosky - Parent Liaison, Trip Coordinator
Wynn Haslam - College Liaison
Risa Hilinski - College Liaison
Zach Parente - College Liaison
Anusha Ragupathy - College Liaison
Nicole Trommelen - Community Outreach, THS Liaison
In the years since FOA has participated in ASP each summer. Our participation and amount of money committed to the region is growing steadily. Thank you to all!
FOA Towns/States/Counties we have served
2010 - Butler, TN - Carter County
2011 - Jackson, KY - Breathitt County
2012 - Chapmanville, WV - Logan County
2013 - Boone, NC, - Watauga County
2014 - Whiteburg, KY - Letcher County
2015 - Newport, TN - Cocke County
2016 - Huff Creek, WV, - Wyoming County
2017 - Evarts, KY - Harlan County
2018 - Clay, WV - Clay County
2019- Johnson City, TN - Washington County
2022- Floyd, KY - Floyd County
2023 - Rupert, WV - Greenbrier County
2024 - Shady Valley, TN - Johnson County
2025 -
FOA Trip Volunteer Reflection & Thank You -
Now that we're all home safe and sound, I want to take a moment to say thank you.
To all the donors that made it possible over the years, Thank you, thank you, thank you. No matter the amount, YOU helped us make homes warmer, safer, drier.
With your exceptional donations, we were able to buy a stove and microwave for a family that couldn't afford to get theirs replaced AND we even ended up leaving behind an extra $3500 behind so @appservproject can continue to serve those in need in Central Appalachia and the citizens of Floyd County, Kentucky
Volunteers, all 34 of you from all over CT and beyond came together for a week to not only help others, but to maybe help yourself. Just like my first trip back in 2006. I didn't really know why I wanted to go on this trip but something kept pushing me to go and you know what. It literally changed my life.
Still to this day, after 15 trips (17 years technically with Covid) and dedicating what spare time I had to help create an organization that someday another freshman in high school can have the same feeling as I did after my first trip and will want to continue this and maybe take over my spot someday...well....maybe...
This might be the end of this years trip but its not the end of your volunteering career. You are now apart of this family for LIFE. Be proud to wear this shirt every time you put it on and to always remember those families you worked for and the hope you give them.
I can still remember every family I worked for and how much they helped me just as much as I helped them. Our family got a little bigger this year and it brings great joy knowing this isn't the end, but the start of something new.
"14 years of moving mountains
14 years of serving with love
14 years of changing lives
Where ever we go, we are Friends of Appalachia."
Love, Kyle Peters
P.S. Anyone else already ready to go back?? I am.
In the fall of 2009, A group of committed and experienced individuals came together to form an independent 501(c)(3) with a simple purpose: to Help. Build. Hope. in Central Appalachia. This organization would enable us to work unrestricted for the people of Central Appalachia. Our single largest initiative was the ASP trip that many of us had made in the past, as well as some new initiatives to focus on more year-round help for this impoverished region.
FOA's 2009 Founding Board Members
Anna Henry, President John Dosky, Vice President
Lisa Peters, Treasurer Val Collison, Secretary
Doug Doyle Sandy Fraser
Joe Henry John Henry
Sean Jackson John Nigro
