Who We Are
Our Mission
Appalachia Service Project is a Christian ministry, open to all people, that inspires hope and service through volunteer home repair and replacement in Central Appalachia.
Our Vision
Appalachia Service Project envisions the eradication of substandard housing in Central Appalachia and the transformation of everyone who comes in contact with this ministry.
Our Guiding Principles
*We believe that each person is a child of God imbued with dignity and worth.
*We accept people right where they are and just the way they are.
*We believe that all people should be able to live in affordable, safe, and sanitary housing.
*We are committed to witness through the good quality of our work and careful stewardship of our resources.
*We believe God calls people to serve others as volunteer partners in ministry and we will encourage their growth in faith as they answer this call.
*Where ASP is involved in local communities we will encourage, affirm, and support the fair and just treatment of people.
*We believe in ministering in the spirit of love, acceptance, and hopefulness.
Our History
In 1969, Rev. Glenn “Tex” Evans — a United Methodist minister — became one of the first people to connect the energy of youth with the deep needs of the poor.
During Tex’s 13 years as director at Henderson Settlement in Frakes, Kentucky, he witnessed the great need for home repair assistance. So as part of his already-thriving outreach to the people of Appalachia, he recruited 50 teens and adult volunteers to repair homes in Barbourville, Kentucky. They worked on-site during the day and worshiped in the evenings. By summer’s end, four families had safe, warm homes for the winter, fifty young lives had been changed forever — and a longstanding legacy was born.
But Tex was more than a leader; he was a born motivator. A true student of Appalachian culture and a legendary storyteller, he set the tone for what ASP is today: an extended family where laughter is king. Where relationships matter. And where changing the lives of families and volunteers alike is the highest priority of all.
What We Do
“We accept people right where they are, just the way they are.”
Our philosophy of service has remained the same since our founding: ASP encourages people to act responsibly in the face of human need and injustice.
By transforming faith into ASP service, volunteers respond to a specific need: housing. By putting aside their own needs and desires, ASP volunteers free themselves to share talent, love, and concern with the people of Appalachia and with one another. More important than construction know-how is a willingness to enter the communities and homes of Central Appalachia with sensitivity, concern, and love — accepting people right where they are and just the way they are.
ASP Opportunities
Summer (June-August) - Week long trips focused on home repair projects in one of 20-25 counties within Kentucky, Tennesee, Virginia, West Virginia.
Year-Round (September-May) - Flexible (4-7 day) trips focused on home repair projects in Lee County, VA or Tri-Cities area, TN.
Tri-Cities Repair - Single or multiple day projects for volunteers in the Tri-Cities TN area (September-May).
Disaster Recovery - Year-round options for high skilled volunteers to help with replacement new home construction in Waverly, TN.
New Build Tennessee - Year-round options for high skilled volunteers to help with new home construction in Hancock County, TN or Tri-Cities TN area.
Warehouse Volunteers - Year-round options for serving in the ASP warehouse in Johnson City, TN to sort, organize, clean, and maintain for tools and supplies for all ASP programs.
Brought to you by
Volunteer Tennessee
Details
| (423) 491-5828 | |
| jrickert@asphome.org | |
| Jen Rickert | |
| Volunteer Recruitment Specialist | |
| https://asphome.org/ |
