Appalachia Service Project
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The Appalachia Service Project or ASP is a Christian volunteer organization operating in Central Appalachia, specifically in the states of Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The organization is concerned with home repair for low-income families, as well as a limited amount of affordable home construction. Its primary goal is making homes "warmer, safer, and dryer".
Statement of Values
The Appalachia Service Project lists the following driving values:
"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 affordable, safe, sanitary housing is a basic human right.
We are committed to witness through the good quality of our work and careful stewardship of our resources.
We believe God calls volunteers to serve others as partners in ministry and we will encourage their growth in faith, as they are involved in this service.
We believe where ASP is involved in local communities we will encourage, affirm, and support social and economic justice."
History
ASP was founded in the summer of 1969 by Rev. Glenn "Tex" Evans, a minister in the United Methodist Church. From its humble beginnings, with 50 volunteers repairing four houses in 1969, ASP has grown into a large organization operating in 47 counties. In the summer of 2003, 10,923 volunteers repaired 334 homes. ASP also spun off an organization known as the Sierra Service Project in California. In addition to the summer volunteer program for youth, ASP operates three year-round centers in Jonesville, Virginia, Chavies, Kentucky, and Brenton, West Virginia. Adult volunteers as well as college groups come to these centers to repair homes throughout the year, as well as build affordable housing.
External Links:
- Official Website (http://www.asphome.org/)