COLLEGE-AGED LEADERS-IN-TRAINING (LIT's) &
​ADULT VOLUNTEERS (Advisors)

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

FOA's 11th Anniversary Trip
      July 1st-9th 2023
      Central Appalachia
​Meetings will be held at Trumbull Congregational Church Sundays 6:30-8:00pm          see Calendar Tab FMI 
​

ADVISOR APPLICATION OPEN FOR THE FOA2023 TRIP $150 DEPOSIT IS DUE WITH THE SUBMISSION OF YOUR APPLICATION

SAFE SANCTUARY TRAINING and QUIZ - REQUIRED BY JANUARY

ADVISOR MANUAl - required reading

VOCABULARY FOR ADVISORS

ASP VOLUNTEER STATEMENT AND REGISTRATION FORM - due may 1 

ASP EXPECTATIONS, RULES & REGULATIONS - required reading

INDIVIDUAL PACKING LIST

GROUP PACKING LIST

SOLICITATION LETTER

 This is a youth-focused, outreach ministry trip,
but it would not be possible without our dedicated,
fun-loving and well-trained adult leaders.


FOA-experienced adults: Our returning adult volunteer are the backbone of this wonderful, life-changing event -- your dedication, leadership and spirit make it happen.  

​New FOA adult advisors (over 22 years of age):  You will make a difference in the lives of many young people. You will experience service and fellowship in different and wonderful ways. The fresh perspective and enthusiasm of our new adult volunteers gives us many new ideas every year. But we do not send you off without equipping you. There is training, orientation, team building, fund-raising, and bonding that happens in every activity we sponsor to prepare all participants to act as a team, use their skills and talents and share our love for each other and the Appalachian families we serve on the trip. It is imperative that our adult volunteers are full participants in each activity that leads up to the trip.  
​
Leaders-In-Training (high school graduates thru 21 years of age): If you participated with FOA during high school and you would like to continue the adventure, we would like to welcome you in your new role as a young adult volunteer.  

​We hope the FOA/ASP experience for you! It is a lot of work and a considerable time commitment, 
but there is nothing else like it. 

  Application Information 
  Volunteers can download their forms above using the Black Box links. 
Forms need to be submitted as soon as possible and are required prior to participating in any skills training. 
All LIT's and Adult Advisors need to submit to a background check every three years.
(​ In May you will receive an email with the form to fill out and email back )

​Application fee of $150 is non-refundable and must be submitted with your application. Deposits/Donations into participants accounts are non-refundable. The application, notarized form and any other information requested by FOA is being gathered for the safety of the participants. Our adult volunteers will be responsible for the well-being of the youth participants. This could include seeking emergency medical attention. It is imperative that we have a comprehensive report of any medical or dietary concerns and any medication that is being taken.
​
Registration, Trip Fees and Paperwork
The Adult Advisor cost of participation in the Friends of Appalachia 2023 Trip is $700.
The LIT's/College Advisor (19-21 years of age on the trip) cost of participation in the Friends of Appalachia 2023 Trip is $500.

It is suggested that $200 be deposited into your account each month. The minimum cost must be paid prior to the May Meeting.
​These payments can be made on online in our website link. Checks can be made payable to "FOA" and brought to any event/meeting.

$1300 Club - entitles you to an extra FOA gift and input on an extra purchase for your work site home,
​$1500 Club - entitles you to 2 extra FOA gifts and input on an extra purchase for your work site home 
​

Trip Preparation Meetings
All ASP volunteers are required to attend and participate in all of our pre-trip meetings, community help opportunities, solicitations and fundraisers.  

Meeting 1 is January 8th 2023 at 6:30 - 8:00pm - Parent Meeting 30 min - 10 min Advisor Meeting after
        Meeting 2 is February 5th 2023 at 6:30 - 8:00pm                                                        
Meeting 3 is March 12th,  2023 at 6:30 - 8:00pm - 10 min Advisor Meeting after
Meeting 4 is April 16th, 2023 at 6:30 - 8:00pm - 10 min Advisor Meeting after
Meeting 5 is May 7th, 2023 at 6:30 - 8:00pm - 10 min Advisor Meeting after
Meeting 6 is June 4th, 2023 at 6:30 - 8:00pm - Parent Meeting first 30 mins
June 4th - First Aide/CPR Certification for Advisors - time TBD
ADVISOR  (Mandatory) PRE-TRIP MEETING June 11th, 2023 TBD
ADVISOR POST-TRIP MEETING July 23rd, 2023 TBD
 

Basic Skills Training 
Everyone needs to wear proper work site attire: long pants, a shirt that tucks in (no sleeveless shirts; no low necklines), work boots (no sneakers). Participants with improper attire will not be able to participate. Instruction includes supervised individual practice on the safe use of the circular saw, power drill and hammer among other skills. Everyone needs to bring a "Construction Bag" to each meeting (except January) that includes a 16 oz. hammer, a pair of safety glasses, and a pair of work gloves. Be sure to mark your name on your tools that you bring, because they will tend to look a lot like somebody else's. The same consideration might be given to your work boots.

Expectations during the trip and at the Work Site
 Volunteers participating in Friends of Appalachia Trip will be expected to be involved in specific home building and repair projects. These projects can include activities such as roofing, carpentry, sheet rocking (drywall), digging, building steps, footers and piers, plumbing, insulating, painting, flooring, masonry, electrical wiring and other facets of home repair, remodeling and renovation. These activities include, but are not limited to, the use of power tools such as saws and drills as well as the use of hand tools. These activities will also require climbing, with or without supplies, tools and materials, as well as working in high places such as rooftops, small or confined spaces such as crawlspaces, and other facets of construction work. These activities may be done in any type of setting, including remote, rural, urban, small and large towns. 

You will be expected to work hard. But you will be able to do it!
Each participant is assigned to a particular work crew, a mix of age, gender and experience. a crew is made up of approx 5 Youth and 2 Adult Advisors. 
You are guaranteed to make new friends! 

What happens on the Trip?
On Saturday July 1st,  all participants meet at 6:15am. Our fleet of vehicles will drive to Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg VA, for our first night of the trip in the college dorms. 

On Sunday, July 2nd, after morning devotions together, we continue to our ASP assigned County. 
From Monday to Friday (July 3rd-7th), we will begin each day with breakfast and devotions, work on our homes from 8am-4pm, and then be back together in the evening for free time, dinner, chores, and "evening gathering". This is a typical day. 
​
On Saturday, July 8th about 7am we will leave our center and return to EMU.
On Sunday July 9th , we will leave EMU and drive home to Trumbull arriving approximately 4pm. We will then have our Family Picnic (Unity Park) to celebrate our Week of Work and Fellowship. 

Packing and Departing
The success of the ASP trip is highly dependent on proper preparation, and that is true for packing. Every participant should download the packing list and follow the instructions very carefully.

Pack two bags: a bag for the week, and an overnight bag for the trip down 
Saturday and Sunday. 

~Use a soft duffel bag for your week-bag–no hard-sided suitcases allowed. You will bring your week-bag to the trailer, your name on it is helpful.   

~Use a soft duffel bag for your overnight bag. - no hard-sided suitcases allowed. This bag goes into the vehicle you are traveling in. Be sure you have everything in that you will need for Saturday night and Sunday–sleeping clothes, fresh clothes for the morning, tooth brush, deodorant, and so forth. You will not have access to your week-bag until you arrive at the center on Sunday afternoon. 

We will pack the trailers/vehicles and gather for departure at 6:15 am on Saturday, July 1st , 2023