Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Info from Apex UMC
Hello,
I am the group leader for the Apex UMC group that just returned from the Mullens, WV ASP center. I just wanted to fill our fellow NC groups in on a few things.
Sleeping arrangements - The men slept in two rooms downstairs and both were air conditioned although still a little warm when filled with bodies. The ladies were in classrooms up stairs.
Showers - can't really say much about them except that we had hot water and they had not been used in a while so were quite musky smelling. I believe there were probably 4 working shower heads in the men's bathroom and I'm not sure about the women's although other than smell, I heard no complaints.
Mullens is a little more developed than most towns we've been in. There is a grocery store and most importantly a Dairy Queen. There are also a couple of gas stations.
The furthest house we had was probably 30 minutes from the center. Several were 5-10 minutes away. I know the staff was working hard to find other projects in the county so that is subject to change I'm sure.
On Saturday when you're leaving, no breakfast is provided so we split our teams between the Hardees and McDonalds which will be on Rt 16 (after turning from the two lane Hwy 54) and just prior to getting back onto the Interstate. You'll probably see them if you come in through Beckley.
Regards,
John TignerMid-Week 3 Updates
Aloha from Mullens, WV. Wow, we’re a quarter of the way through our summer and its never gone faster! It must be because we’re having fun. Week 2 was filled with rain, but our volunteers were real troopers and worked through it. They also helped us raise money for a new bathroom in one of our homes with their very successful t-shirt auction! Week 3 promises to be a very interesting week, we’ve started a few new projects and we finished up a few old ones. Hopefully this update will give you a little update on how your families are getting on.
Project 1
Code Name: Alphabet Soup
Situation: Barbara lives with her dog and bird alone. She’s a real kick, so be prepared to fall in love!
Last Week: Underpinning/Foundations.
This week: Finalize Underpinning and give Barbara a new front porch!
Future: Back porch?
Project 2
Code Name: Cellular Phone
Situation: The Rutherfords! Grandma Melanie and Storm (her grandson) living together at the top of the hill. Storm will require a playmate at all times, so be prepared to PLAY!
Last Week: Added railings and stairs to the porch, as well as attached it to the home. It turned out beautiful.
This Week: Insulate the floors!
Future: We are investigating the situation
Project 3
Code Name: Unique Opportunity
Situation: Mother, daughter and son living next to the post office. All of whom love to chit chat!Last Week: Got rid of black mold in the back room and re-did the drywall. (It looks GORGEOUS!)
This week: Spackle and paint the new drywall.
Future: We are investigating the situation
Project 4
Code Name: Bar of Soap
Situation: Janie, Amanda and T. Andy live together in a trailer quite close to our center. They’re so wonderful and charming, you’ll love to meet them.
Last Week: Put in new floor and put railings on a the back porch, as well as building a set of back steps.
This Week: Front Porch and Rooster roof.
Future: Bathroom Floor is looking like a possibility.
Project 5
Code Name: Nacho Cheese/ Charlie’s Angels
Situation: Billy, Donna and their two kids Latisha and Cody living and loving in West Virginia. Latisha and Cody will be your best friends!
Last Week: Finished their front porch off and had a drainage ditch installed around back.
This week: Siding the second addition.
Future: Interior work, gutters, facia and soffits.
Project 6
Code Name: Counting Crows
Situation: Margaret and Arnold are and elderly couple, both of whom are very ill. Margaret loves cake!
Last Week: We were not on this house last week due to a family emergency, but previously we put on new underpinning.
This Week: finishing up underpinning and putting up siding
Future: We are investigating the situation.
Project 7
Code Name: Paparazzi
Situation: Leanna and 3 kids Shannon, Zackary and Julia. Kids are fun when they are around.
Last Week: repaired continuous foundation and fixed the electrical situation, so they finally have full power in their home!
This Week: putting in a sill plate and floor for their bathroom addition.
Future plans: The rest of the addition; walls, roof, flooring painting and fixtures.
Project 8
Code Name: Candy Cane
Situation: 97 year old James lives alone with lots of visits from his daughter Lola.
Last Week: This is a new project!
This Week: Repairing his roof.
Future plans: That might take a while, possibly.
Project 9
Code Name: Don’t Touch My Stuff
Situation: Mother and Father Baily and daughter Nicole (who can kick our staffs butt at connect four) live together with two cute dogs and mysterious kittens no one can find...
Last Week: This is a new project!
This Week: Building a safe second exit porch.
Future plans: We are investigating the situation.
Project 10
Code Name: Mac and Cheese
Situation: Mother Wanda living with two kids, all of whom are very sweet.
Last Week: This too, is a new project.
This Week: Investigating her roof and the vinyl siding/soffits.
Future Plans: Roofing possibly. We’ll tackle it as it comes.
Project 11
Code Name: Welcome Home
Situation: Clarence is the most lovable man you’ll ever meet. Be prepared to fall head over heels for this project.
Last Week: Another new project. We like to keep busy.
This Week: ROOF! ROOF!
Future Plans: We are investigating the situation.
If you haven’t been able to tell, we’ve been busy! Our projects thus far are working out spectacularly. appreciate it. We can’t wait for your arrival at Mullens middle school!
---Mullens Staff (Meg, Mike, Jamielee and Becca)
Project 1
Code Name: Alphabet Soup
Situation: Barbara lives with her dog and bird alone. She’s a real kick, so be prepared to fall in love!
Last Week: Underpinning/Foundations.
This week: Finalize Underpinning and give Barbara a new front porch!
Future: Back porch?
Project 2
Code Name: Cellular Phone
Situation: The Rutherfords! Grandma Melanie and Storm (her grandson) living together at the top of the hill. Storm will require a playmate at all times, so be prepared to PLAY!
Last Week: Added railings and stairs to the porch, as well as attached it to the home. It turned out beautiful.
This Week: Insulate the floors!
Future: We are investigating the situation
Project 3
Code Name: Unique Opportunity
Situation: Mother, daughter and son living next to the post office. All of whom love to chit chat!Last Week: Got rid of black mold in the back room and re-did the drywall. (It looks GORGEOUS!)
This week: Spackle and paint the new drywall.
Future: We are investigating the situation
Project 4
Code Name: Bar of Soap
Situation: Janie, Amanda and T. Andy live together in a trailer quite close to our center. They’re so wonderful and charming, you’ll love to meet them.
Last Week: Put in new floor and put railings on a the back porch, as well as building a set of back steps.
This Week: Front Porch and Rooster roof.
Future: Bathroom Floor is looking like a possibility.
Project 5
Code Name: Nacho Cheese/ Charlie’s Angels
Situation: Billy, Donna and their two kids Latisha and Cody living and loving in West Virginia. Latisha and Cody will be your best friends!
Last Week: Finished their front porch off and had a drainage ditch installed around back.
This week: Siding the second addition.
Future: Interior work, gutters, facia and soffits.
Project 6
Code Name: Counting Crows
Situation: Margaret and Arnold are and elderly couple, both of whom are very ill. Margaret loves cake!
Last Week: We were not on this house last week due to a family emergency, but previously we put on new underpinning.
This Week: finishing up underpinning and putting up siding
Future: We are investigating the situation.
Project 7
Code Name: Paparazzi
Situation: Leanna and 3 kids Shannon, Zackary and Julia. Kids are fun when they are around.
Last Week: repaired continuous foundation and fixed the electrical situation, so they finally have full power in their home!
This Week: putting in a sill plate and floor for their bathroom addition.
Future plans: The rest of the addition; walls, roof, flooring painting and fixtures.
Project 8
Code Name: Candy Cane
Situation: 97 year old James lives alone with lots of visits from his daughter Lola.
Last Week: This is a new project!
This Week: Repairing his roof.
Future plans: That might take a while, possibly.
Project 9
Code Name: Don’t Touch My Stuff
Situation: Mother and Father Baily and daughter Nicole (who can kick our staffs butt at connect four) live together with two cute dogs and mysterious kittens no one can find...
Last Week: This is a new project!
This Week: Building a safe second exit porch.
Future plans: We are investigating the situation.
Project 10
Code Name: Mac and Cheese
Situation: Mother Wanda living with two kids, all of whom are very sweet.
Last Week: This too, is a new project.
This Week: Investigating her roof and the vinyl siding/soffits.
Future Plans: Roofing possibly. We’ll tackle it as it comes.
Project 11
Code Name: Welcome Home
Situation: Clarence is the most lovable man you’ll ever meet. Be prepared to fall head over heels for this project.
Last Week: Another new project. We like to keep busy.
This Week: ROOF! ROOF!
Future Plans: We are investigating the situation.
If you haven’t been able to tell, we’ve been busy! Our projects thus far are working out spectacularly. appreciate it. We can’t wait for your arrival at Mullens middle school!
---Mullens Staff (Meg, Mike, Jamielee and Becca)
Monday, June 28, 2010
Week 2 Updates
Hello from Mullens Staff! We’ve been having a great time getting to know the families, the community and of course, the volunteers. We’re super excited because week 2 has a special t-shirt auction planned, I think this will give us enough money to fully fund a new bathroom for one of our homes. We’ve finished a few homes and we’ve started a new one for week 2 and we’re very excited to tell you about it!Without further ado, an update on each project…
Project 1
Code Name: Superman
Family Situation: An elderly woman living alone, although she is surrounded by family close by. You’ll have more visitors than, you’ll know what to do with so be prepared to put on your best ASP smile!Last week:They replaced her kitchen floor, with OSB and luaun.
This week: Finishing the tile for her kitchen!
Future: At the moment we have no future projects planned.
Project 2 & 3
Code Name: Nacho Cheese/Charlies Angels
Family Situation: Mother and Father living with their 2 sons and their 16 year old daughter. Father and mother are unemployed. Kids are willing to help out!Last week: Sided their back addition and built them a front porch.
This week: Finishing porch, beginning to fix bathroom floor. Also digging drainage ditch.
Future: siding on front of home.
Project 4
Code Name: Bar of Soap
Family Situation: A mother living with her son and daughter. Daughter will DJ music for the day, so be prepared to work and JAM!
Last Week: Built a back porch and fixed her kitchen floor.
This week: Putting in luaun and tile.
Future: Front porch.
Project 5
Code Name: Paparazzi
Family Situation: Husband, wife and 3 kids. Both parents are unemployed. The kids LOVE to help. Last week: Removed entire bathroom.
This week: Fix continuous foundation underneath the bathroom, begin bathroom repairs.
Future: whole new bathroom!
Project 6
Code Name: Unique Opportunity
Family Situation: Single woman living with 45 year old son. She may not remember when you come by, but she’ll really enjoy you while you’re there. Meg would like to include that Unique’s sister worked where her dad works in Cockeysville, MD.
Last week: This is a brand new project!This week: cleaning walls from mold, sure up walls and roof, fix mold in walls and ceiling in back bedroom.
Future: Possibly paint and scrape windows.
Project 7
Code Name: Cellular Phone
Situation: Grandmother living with 4 year old grandson. Grandson is a real spitfire. She is unemployed.
Last week: Built a front porch.
This week: Attaching porch to house, building stairs, putting on handrails.
Future projects: Fixing floors, checking the foundations and if all is well, placing underpinning.
Project 8
Code Name: Alphabet Soup
Situation: Elderly woman, lives with dog. You’ll love the dog!
Last week: Underpinning!
This week: More underpinning and fixing some foundations.
Future: Porches, replace band joists, possibly fixing bathroom floor.
Project 1
Code Name: Superman
Family Situation: An elderly woman living alone, although she is surrounded by family close by. You’ll have more visitors than, you’ll know what to do with so be prepared to put on your best ASP smile!Last week:They replaced her kitchen floor, with OSB and luaun.
This week: Finishing the tile for her kitchen!
Future: At the moment we have no future projects planned.
Project 2 & 3
Code Name: Nacho Cheese/Charlies Angels
Family Situation: Mother and Father living with their 2 sons and their 16 year old daughter. Father and mother are unemployed. Kids are willing to help out!Last week: Sided their back addition and built them a front porch.
This week: Finishing porch, beginning to fix bathroom floor. Also digging drainage ditch.
Future: siding on front of home.
Project 4
Code Name: Bar of Soap
Family Situation: A mother living with her son and daughter. Daughter will DJ music for the day, so be prepared to work and JAM!
Last Week: Built a back porch and fixed her kitchen floor.
This week: Putting in luaun and tile.
Future: Front porch.
Project 5
Code Name: Paparazzi
Family Situation: Husband, wife and 3 kids. Both parents are unemployed. The kids LOVE to help. Last week: Removed entire bathroom.
This week: Fix continuous foundation underneath the bathroom, begin bathroom repairs.
Future: whole new bathroom!
Project 6
Code Name: Unique Opportunity
Family Situation: Single woman living with 45 year old son. She may not remember when you come by, but she’ll really enjoy you while you’re there. Meg would like to include that Unique’s sister worked where her dad works in Cockeysville, MD.
Last week: This is a brand new project!This week: cleaning walls from mold, sure up walls and roof, fix mold in walls and ceiling in back bedroom.
Future: Possibly paint and scrape windows.
Project 7
Code Name: Cellular Phone
Situation: Grandmother living with 4 year old grandson. Grandson is a real spitfire. She is unemployed.
Last week: Built a front porch.
This week: Attaching porch to house, building stairs, putting on handrails.
Future projects: Fixing floors, checking the foundations and if all is well, placing underpinning.
Project 8
Code Name: Alphabet Soup
Situation: Elderly woman, lives with dog. You’ll love the dog!
Last week: Underpinning!
This week: More underpinning and fixing some foundations.
Future: Porches, replace band joists, possibly fixing bathroom floor.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Week One Update from Mullens
Greetings future Mullens Volunteers!
Here’s the update for week 1:
We cannot wait for you to arrive! We’ve been having a wonderful week of getting to know the families, the communities and our wonderful week 1 volunteers. We’re even enjoying those West Virginia country roads, as crazy as it sounds. Prepare yourselves for the hills and switchbacks, as well as lots and lots of gnats (can you say bug spray?)
In a few days or weeks, you’ll be arriving at Mullens Middle School searching for projects. At the moment, we are compiling more projects for future weeks to work on. As of right now, we have 8 beautiful projects that promise us lots of hard work and a wonderful ASP experience. Hopefully this will help you figure out what to bring for each project, and I’ll try to keep you updated as to what’s happening with the new projects we’re acquiring.
Without further ado, here are some brief descriptions of our projects:
Project 1
Code Name: Superman
Family Situation: An elderly woman living alone, although she is surrounded by family close by.
Last week:They replaced her kitchen floor, with OSB and luaun.
This week: Finishing the tile for her kitchen!
Future: At the moment we have no future projects planned.
Project 2 & 3
Code Name: Nacho Cheese/Charlies Angels
Family Situation: Mother and Father living with their 2 sons and their 16 year old daughter.
Last week: Sided their back addition and built them a front porch.
This week: Finishing porch, beginning to fix bathroom floor. Also digging drainage
ditch.
Future: siding on front of home.
Project 4
Code Name: Bar of Soap
Family Situation: A mother living with her son and daughter.
Last Week: Built a back porch and fixed her kitchen floor.
This week: Putting in luaun and tile.
Future: Front porch? Maybe?
Project 5
Code Name: Paparazzi
Situation: Husband, wife and 3 kids. Both parents are unemployed.
Last week: Removed entire bathroom.
This week: Fix continuous foundation underneath the bathroom, begin bathroom repairs.
Future: whole new bathroom!
Project 6
Code Name: Counting Crows
Situation: Single woman living with 45 year old son.
Last week: This is a brand new project!
This week: cleaning walls from mold, sure up walls and roof, fix mold in walls and ceiling in back bedroom.
Future: Possibly paint and scrape windows.
Project 7
Code Name: Cellular Phone
Situation: Grandmother living with 4 year old grandson. She is unemployed.
Last week: Built a front porch.
This week: Attaching porch to house, building stairs, putting on handrails.
Future projects: Fixing floors, checking the foundations and if all is well, placing underpinning.
Project 8
Code Name: Alphabet Soup
Situation: Elderly woman, lives with dog.
Last week: Underpinning!
This week: More underpinning and fixing some foundations.
Future: Porches, replace band joists, possibly fixing bathroom floor.
Hopefully this will help you out in preparing for your fun week with us!
-Jamielee (Mullens Volunteer Coordinator)
Here’s the update for week 1:
We cannot wait for you to arrive! We’ve been having a wonderful week of getting to know the families, the communities and our wonderful week 1 volunteers. We’re even enjoying those West Virginia country roads, as crazy as it sounds. Prepare yourselves for the hills and switchbacks, as well as lots and lots of gnats (can you say bug spray?)
In a few days or weeks, you’ll be arriving at Mullens Middle School searching for projects. At the moment, we are compiling more projects for future weeks to work on. As of right now, we have 8 beautiful projects that promise us lots of hard work and a wonderful ASP experience. Hopefully this will help you figure out what to bring for each project, and I’ll try to keep you updated as to what’s happening with the new projects we’re acquiring.
Without further ado, here are some brief descriptions of our projects:
Project 1
Code Name: Superman
Family Situation: An elderly woman living alone, although she is surrounded by family close by.
Last week:They replaced her kitchen floor, with OSB and luaun.
This week: Finishing the tile for her kitchen!
Future: At the moment we have no future projects planned.
Project 2 & 3
Code Name: Nacho Cheese/Charlies Angels
Family Situation: Mother and Father living with their 2 sons and their 16 year old daughter.
Last week: Sided their back addition and built them a front porch.
This week: Finishing porch, beginning to fix bathroom floor. Also digging drainage
ditch.
Future: siding on front of home.
Project 4
Code Name: Bar of Soap
Family Situation: A mother living with her son and daughter.
Last Week: Built a back porch and fixed her kitchen floor.
This week: Putting in luaun and tile.
Future: Front porch? Maybe?
Project 5
Code Name: Paparazzi
Situation: Husband, wife and 3 kids. Both parents are unemployed.
Last week: Removed entire bathroom.
This week: Fix continuous foundation underneath the bathroom, begin bathroom repairs.
Future: whole new bathroom!
Project 6
Code Name: Counting Crows
Situation: Single woman living with 45 year old son.
Last week: This is a brand new project!
This week: cleaning walls from mold, sure up walls and roof, fix mold in walls and ceiling in back bedroom.
Future: Possibly paint and scrape windows.
Project 7
Code Name: Cellular Phone
Situation: Grandmother living with 4 year old grandson. She is unemployed.
Last week: Built a front porch.
This week: Attaching porch to house, building stairs, putting on handrails.
Future projects: Fixing floors, checking the foundations and if all is well, placing underpinning.
Project 8
Code Name: Alphabet Soup
Situation: Elderly woman, lives with dog.
Last week: Underpinning!
This week: More underpinning and fixing some foundations.
Future: Porches, replace band joists, possibly fixing bathroom floor.
Hopefully this will help you out in preparing for your fun week with us!
-Jamielee (Mullens Volunteer Coordinator)
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Check in out...ASP CONNECTS
New to the ASP website this summer is ASP CONNECTS. It gives us all the opportunity to see all of the different communities ASP is serving and allows us to connect with the other churches who have already visited our center. There are photos, blogs, and more, so check it out!
http://asphome.org/group/wyoming-county-wv-mullens
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Meet the ASP staff of Wyoming County
Finance Coordinator: Mike Zitzer Center Director: Megan Armstrong
Volunteer Coordinator: Jamielee Demske
Operations Coordinator: Becca Ford
Want to know more info about ASP Staffers? http://asphome.org/My_ASP/summer_staff
Monday, June 14, 2010
Welcome to Wyoming County, WV...
Flooding in Wyoming County, WV 2001
Many families are still living in the flood's aftermath--
waiting on assistance from FEMA and organizations like ASP.
waiting on assistance from FEMA and organizations like ASP.
Why We Work Here
Wyoming County is one of the poorest in Appalachia with a poverty rate of 25.1% (national rate is 12%) and a median household income of $24,030 in 2007. We have been a consistent presence in the area, since we own and routinely house volunteers at the Guyan Valley Center. ASP has built a great reputation in the community due to the hard work of several past staffs. Additionally, because of the large number of applications ASP receives in the area each year, we are committed to serving in the area for years to come.
Culture & History
Wyoming County was hit severely by flooding in mid-July 2001. More than eight inches of rain fell in the span of two hours, leaving no time for it to soak into the ground. Bridges caught downed trees and served as dams. Roads and railroads near bends in creeks were completely washed out. And many homes and businesses were completely covered in the flood waters. Fortunately, the rains came in the daytime, so there was only one casualty in the county. Had this occurred at night, hundreds could have died in the rapidly rising waters.
This severe flooding is the reason ASP had two centers in the county in 2002. Many people were affected, many still have not received help, and still others received temporary help from FEMA but have not yet repaired their homes to a point where they can live in them again.
Now, years later, there are still families who can use housing assistance, as we’ve been told by community members.
Our relationship with ASP...
Garber UMC has been participating in the Appalachia Service Project since 1997. Each year our group of teenage volunteers, young adults, and their leaders travel to West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, or Kentucky.
The Appalachia Service Project is a forty-year-old program of the Methodist Church whose focus is to make homes in Appalachia warmer, safer and drier. The trip involves two days of travel, a week of work, and one day of travel back home. The accommodations for the week long experience are usually schools that are converted into centers for the eight week program. College students, most of who were volunteers in the past, staff the centers.
The work is hard, hot, dirty, and very rewarding. The work ranges from digging for foundations or for retaining walls to protect homes from water damage, to finishing additions for expanding families. The families that are met and the relationships framed are the high point of the trip. The families have been warm and welcoming, and open our young peoples’ eyes to an entirely different culture in an entirely different part of their country. As our young people serve their Lord in this way, their lives are changed as they make changes in other peoples’ lives.
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