The Appalachia Service Project (ASP) is a home repair/home building ministry serving the Appalachia regions of North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. ASP responds to the housing needs of economically disadvantaged people in Appalachia using a Christian perspective. The ministry was started in 1969 by Methodist pastor Tex Evans with a handful of teenagers, with a mission to help to make homes warmer, safer, and drier.
Our work crews tackle projects ranging from painting to retaining walls to replacing roofs to major structural surgery. In the process we learn new skills, meet volunteers from other churches, are challenged intellectually and spiritually, and have fun. Most importantly, we also have the opportunity to serve the families who we are working on. ASP is open to any youth in grades 8 or above. We also need adult leaders and college age are welcome as well.
ASP In Recent Years
In 2019, over 16,000 volunteers worked on almost 500 homes, continuing this mission. White Plains began sending teams of youth in the summer of 1977, and since 2015 has sent adult work teams twice a year, in March and November. COVID-19 forced ASP to suspend the summer youth program for 2020, but they have continued to work on some homes doing outside projects in a safe manner using the full-time ASP paid staff. Our hope at White Plains is to be able to send a work team again in 2021. Adult volunteers are also needed as mentors for the summer program. We have been blessed to be a blessing. Please consider joining us!
If you have any questions you may email the ASP leadership team at asp@wpumc.com
For more information about ASP, please click here to visit their website.