RETURNING YOUTH VOLUNTEERS !

So you liked sleeping on the floor, working in the rain or hot sun, and taking cold showers?
And the mystery meat didn't scare you off?
Well then, welcome back! We really rely on our experienced youth to round out the crews and help the first-timers get up to speed.
​Thank you for your dedication to the Friends of Appalachia Mission!

FOA's 12th 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

Welcome back!

Application Information
We really rely on our experienced youth to round out the crews and help the first-timers get up to speed. Thank you for your dedication to the Appalachia Service Project! We are so happy your considering transforming lives in Central Appalachia again!

​Applications for Returning Participants will open in January. the link will stay open for 3 weeks to give Returning Participants a chance to apply.
If there are any spots opened after the 3 weeks, the link for the New Participants will open and remain open until we are full, which usually takes a day.
Volunteer Registration form is due prior to May 1st. 
 
Registrations for New Participants will be on a first come/first serve basis after the Returning Participants are given the week prior to submit their completed applications. After we are full, both application links will be closed. There is no waiting list. Please be aware, our trip spots are usually filled within 3 days after the trip application is opened.

Registration Fees and Paperwork
The cost of participation in the Friends of Appalachia 2023 Trip is $1000.
​The Application/Commitment fee of $150.
After the application fee is paid, it is suggested that a minimum of $200 be deposited into your account each month. The minimum $1000 must be paid in full prior to our May Meeting. These payments can be made on online in our "Click Our Logo To Donate" link above. 
Checks can be made payable to "FOA" and brought to any event/meeting.  
Please click on the "Solicitation Letter" black box above on the this page. You can edit this document and send to family and friends for donations to you account. 
​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.


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.

2023 Trip Amount - $1000 
$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 8 th, 2023 at 6:30-8:00pm                                                                                                               - Required Parent Meeting first 30 mins.
  •        Meeting 2 is February 5th 2023 at 6:30-8:00 pm
  •       Meeting 3 is March 12th,  2023 at 6:30 - 8:00 pm
  •    Meeting 4 is April 16th, 2023 at 6:30 - 8:00 pm
  • Meeting 5 is May 7 th, 2023 at 6:30 - 8:00pm
  •                                         Meeting 6 is June 4th, 2023 at 6:30 - 8:00pm                                                                                                                    - Required Parent Meeting first 30 mins. 
  •  
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 9th all participants meet at 6:15am. Our fleet of vehicles will drive to Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg VA, for the first night of the trip in the college dorms. 

On Sunday, July 10th, after morning devotions together, we continue to our ASP assigned County. 

From Monday to Friday (July 11-15), we will begin each day with breakfast and devotions, work on our homes from 8-4, and then be back together in the evening for free time, dinner, chores, and "evening gathering". This is a typical day. 

On Saturday, July 16th about 7am we will leave our center and return to EMU.

On Sunday July 17th, we will leave EMU and drive home to Trumbull arriving approximately 4pm.
We will then have our Family Picnic 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 for 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
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Please contact us for more information and learn about upcoming events and meetings! ​

Email         
​HelpBuildHope@gmail.com                                 

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