Meet Our Volunteers
Christian Appalachian Project is blessed to have 50-60 long-term volunteers who have made a commitment of 9 months or longer to serve in eastern Kentucky. Motivated by a faith that demands action, these volunteers come from all walks of life, but are united by a desire to be the hands and feet of Christ in Appalachia. Many of these volunteers are available to speak to potential long-term volunteers. If you would like to talk to a current volunteer about long-term service at CAP, email us at volunteer@chrisapp.org.
Sharyn Bowes
Sharyn came to CAP in May 2008 from Portland, Oregon. She serves in CAP’s Grateful Bread Food Pantry program and is volunteering because “God directed me here.” She lives in Rockcastle Volunteer House.
Janet Fiedler
Janet is no stranger to CAP—in September 2009 she returned to CAP from California to begin her third term with CAP in the past 9 years. She prefers CAP to other volunteer programs because of the “commitment to daily devotions.” Janet is once again serving in Elderly Services and living in Jackson Volunteer House. When asked why she is volunteering, Janet says she “can’t seem to let it go.”
Jane Marotz
Jane came to CAP in September 2009 from Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin. Before committing to volunteer life, Jane worked full-time as an office manager. She now serves as a caseworker in Family Advocacy and lives in Jackson Volunteer House. Jane says she is volunteering because “I need to be a part of something where I can see God at work.”
Chris Barnett
Chris, 21, is originally from Burlington, Kentucky, and now calls Jackson Volunteer House home. During his first year of service, Chris served in Educational and Recreational Programming, where he helped at a teen center run by one of CAP’s partner organizations. He is now a second-year volunteer in the Housing program. Chris hopes to gain a greater sense of himself while volunteering and grow in his faith.
Liz Pecoraro
Liz serves in the Volunteer Program office. She came to CAP from Illinois in September 2008 to join her husband, who is a CAP employee. The couple lives independently of a volunteer house.
Chase Adlard
Chase, 24, came to CAP in June 2009 after graduating from the University of Dayton. Chase serves in the Elderly Housing program, where he serves on projects specifically for CAP’s elderly participants. Chase is hoping to learn “more about helping others and God” through his time at CAP. Chase lives in Johnson Volunteer House.
Mark Anderson
Mark first volunteered for CAP in the summer of 2008 as a counselor at Camp Shawnee. After graduating from the University of Dayton, Mark decided to make a long-term commitment to CAP’s Housing program. Mark lives in Floyd Volunteer House and is volunteering with CAP “because of the Christian base, the experiences I have had, and the people of CAP I have interacted with.”
Andrew Rath
Andrew, 22, is a New Jersey native who was finishing college at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota before joining CAP in August 2009. Andrew serves in the Housing program and lives in Johnson Volunteer House. He is volunteering with CAP because he “wanted an opportunity to volunteer in a rural area.”
Jennifer Zupicich
Jennifer is a 2009 graduate of Stonehill College in her home state of Massachusetts. Jennifer serves in Child and Family Development and lives in Johnson Volunteer House. She is volunteering because she wants to “make a difference and help others.”
Kate Stefanowicz
Kate is a 2009 graduate of the University of Connecticut. She first came to CAP through WorkFest, CAP’s alternative spring break program, then joined CAP in August 2009 to serve in the Housing program. Kate lives in Floyd Volunteer House and says she is volunteering because “I wanted time to figure out what I wanted to do after college and really find myself.”
Judith DeAngelis
Judith came to CAP in May 2009 from Florida. She lives in Magoffin Volunteer House and serves in Respite Services.
Anita Rayner
Anita came to CAP from Texas in 2004 and has been serving Appalachia ever since. She currently lives in the Magoffin Group Volunteer House, where she cooks for and hosts church and school volunteer groups.
Tom Reger
Tom came to CAP in March 2009 to help repair homes for CAP’s elderly participants. He is from Florida and lives in the Magoffin Volunteer House.
Jillian Gantz
Jillian, 18, came to CAP in September 2009 from Richmond, Virginia. She previously volunteered with CAP as part of a church group. She now serves in CAP’s Spouse Abuse program. Jillian hopes to learn “how to live in community, how to open up, and also to learn how I can spread God’s love.”
Mary Johnson
Mary is from Las Vegas, Nevada. She came to CAP as a long-term volunteer in September 2009, having previously volunteered on a short-term basis. Mary lives in Johnson Volunteer House and helps to host volunteer groups who serve for a week.
Caitlin Elsik
Caitlin, 18, joined CAP in August 2009 after graduating high school in Illinois. Caitlin’s church, Christ Community in St. Charles, has a strong relationship with CAP, and the community encouraged her to volunteer at Camp Shawnee in the summer of 2009. Caitlin then decided to join CAP’s home repair program for the elderly. She lives in Johnson Volunteer House.
Mary Ann O’Connor
Mary Ann, a retired health care administrator, was volunteering at her local Catholic Charities in San Diego when she decided to make a long-term commitment to CAP in September 2009. She lives in Johnson Volunteer House and teaches parenting classes. She hopes to gain an “understanding of the culture, the people and the issues of Appalachia” during her time at CAP.
Kyle Lueken
Kyle, 26, came to volunteer with CAP with his wife Molly in October 2009. Kyle worked as a landscape architect before joining CAP and now volunteers in Housing. Kyle says he and Molly were attracted to “the diversity and flexibility of the programs” in CAP. Molly has completed her volunteer time and is now employed at a nonprofit in West Virginia. Kyle and molly live independently of a volunteer house.
Bridget McCormack
Bridget, 22, is a 2009 graduate of St. Joseph’s College in Patchague, New York. She first came to CAP with a group from her college, then took the plunge into long-term volunteering in January 2010. Like many volunteers, Bridget is at CAP because she feels “called” to be here. Bridget volunteers in Elderly Services and lives in Jackson Volunteer House.
Jessica Phelps
Jessica, 25, was working as an office manager in her home state of Kentucky before joining CAP in October 2009 as a long-term volunteer. She previously served as a short-term volunteer in 2008, and came back with the goal to “grow as a person, grow closer to God and educate myself on helping children reach their potential.” Jessica serves in Child and Family Development and lives in McCreary Volunteer House.
Julia McStravog
Julia, 24, got tired of ”wasting time after graduation” from Marymount University in Virginia and joined CAP as a long-term volunteer in October 2009. The Pennsylvania native serves in Family Advocacy and lives in McCreary Volunteer House.
Mandy Moran
Mandy, 29, first volunteered for CAP at Camp Shawnee in 2008. That experience led her to return to CAP in January 2010 to serve at one of CAP’s Spouse Abuse shelters and CAP’s Grateful Bread Food Pantry. Mandy loves being able to “help underprivileged children and their families.” Before CAP, Mandy served two years in Russia as a Wesleyan missionary.
Rachel Weiderman
A Kentucky native, Rachel wanted to “help my state” by joining CAP as a long-term volunteer in January 2010. Rachel is a recent graduate of Western Kentucky University and now serves in Child and Family Development. She lives in Floyd Volunteeer House.
Nancy Tabor
Nancy, from Charlotte, North Carolina, was inspired to join CAP by a 20/20 special on Appalachia. “I am volunteering with CAP because at this point in my life I want to give back,” she says. Nancy serves at the Grateful Bread Food Pantry and lives in Rockcastle Volunteer House.
Sarah Eisenberg
Sarah, 22, graduated from Georgetown College in Kentucky before joining CAP in June 2010. She first came to CAP with her college for WorkFest. Sarah is serving at Grateful Threadz thrift store and is volunteering because “CAP sees the value in people for being people, human beings made in G-d’s image deserving of respect.” Sarah lives in Mt. Vernon Volunteer House.
Kayla Casey
Kayla, 22, serves in CAP’s Child and Family Development program. Although Kayla joined CAP as a long-term volunteer in June 2010, she had previously served at Camp AJ in 2009. Kayla is a Berea College graduate and is volunteering because “people think you have to go overseas for a mission. This is a mission for me, to serve the people here in Kentucky, because everyone needs Jesus and love.” Kayla is originally from Ohio, but now calls Mt. Vernon House home.
Alister Willard
Alister, 22, graduated from Regent University before joining CAP in May 2010. The Minnesota native serves in CAP’s Elderly Services program, providing visitation and transportation services to homebound senior citizens. Alister says he is volunteering for CAP because “I want to put my love for God into action.” He lives in Jackson Volunteer House.
Karen Berger
Karen, 26, was working in a daycare in Virginia when she decided instead to volunteer in CAP’s Child and Family Development program beginning in April 2010. Karen lives in Rockcastle Volunteer House and says she is volunteering because ”I wanted to impact children and families with God’s love and live in a Christian community.”
Jay Jay McCormick
Jay Jay, 34, has been volunteering at Healing Rain Substance Abuse Recovery since May 2010. Oringinally from Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, Jay Jay says she is volunteering with CAP because “I believe in what CAP does, especially in Kentucky.” Jay Jay lives in Rockcastle Volunteer House.
Monica Thompson
If Monica, 26, looks familiar, it’s because she volunteered with CAP before, beginning in 2007 and heading back to Maryland in 2009. Well, the Kentucky bug has bit Monica hard, as she decided to return in June 2010. This time around, Monica is serving with one of CAP’s partner organizations, St. Paul Catholic Mission in McKee, Kentucky. Monica coordinates St. Paul’s volunteer groups, delivers meals to the elderly, and helps with the many other social services programs St. Paul’s provides. She lives independently of a volunteer house. Why come back to CAP? Monica says that “The people of CAP are some of the most wonderful, loving, caring, passionate individuals I have met. I came back to CAP so that I might serve the people in Appalachia with people who have the same purpose as I do.”
Candice Stamport
When Candice, 27, first came to volunteer at Camp Shawnee in 2009, she knew she was being called to serve as a long-term volunteer. She immediately made plans to leave her teaching job in Texas, and finally joined CAP again in June 2010. Candice serves in the Housing program and lives in Johnson Volunteer House. During her time with CAP she hopes to learn “how to live a life that is truly obedient to God.”
Josh Connell
Josh, 19, was working as a wrestling coach in his home state of Idaho before joining CAP’s Child and Family Development program in April 2010. Josh lives in Johnson Volunteer House and says that he is volunteering because “I really want to serve God and I felt like this was my first step.”
Carl Ford
Carl, 63, joined CAP’s Grateful Bread Food Pantry in June 2010. He heard about CAP from a friend at his church who had been a short-term volunteer, and decided serving for a year was a great way to begin his retirement from the University of Virginia-Charlottesville. Carl lives in Mt. Vernon Volunteer House and says he is volunteering because “I have a need to serve God.”
Jane Nixon
Jane was working for the YMCA before joining CAP in July 2010. Originally from Ohio, Jane now lives in Johnson Volunteer House and serves at the Jean White Respite Center for persons with disabilities. She chose CAP in part because of its domestic focus.
Josh Wittmer
Josh, 27, first came to CAP through WorkFest in 2010 as a student at Indiana University Pennsylvania. The Pittsburgh native was so moved by his WorkFest experience that he decided to return as a long-term volunteer in May 2010. Josh lives at Floyd Volunteer House and teaches GED preparation at a partner agency in West Virginia. Josh hopes to learn “patience, discernment and a joy for service and community” during his time at CAP.
Tom Winston
Tom, 52, was volunteering much of his time in his home state of Pennsylvania before deciding to make the move to full-time volunteering in April 2010. He lives in Floyd Volunteer House and serves in the Elderly Services program. Tom says is volunteering because “God has called me as part of his plan and will to come ot eastern Kentucky.”
Kevin McCullough
Kevin, 20, is a familiar face around CAP. He first came to WorkFest in 2008, then volunteered at Camp Shawnee for two summers before joining CAP as a long-term volunteer in July 2010. Kevin serves in the Child and Family Development program as a teacher’s aide in the school system and helps to run an after-school program at one of CAP’s community centers. Originally from Michigan, Kevin now lives at Floyd Volunteer House. Kevin is volunteering for CAP because “it is a great charity which does amazing things in a wonderful place.”
Katie Hynds
Katie, 20, is another Camp Shawnee alum, and decided to apply as a long-term volunteer after spending the summer of 2009 as a camp counselor. Katie joined CAP again in June 2010 and serves in the Housing program. The Georgia native lives in Johnson Volunteer House and says she hopes to “serve the underprivileged to the best of my ability and see how God would use me in the future.”
Jordan Speigle
Jordan, 26, was working in construction in Pennsylvania before joining CAP in June 2010. Jordan serves on a team that repairs the homes of CAP’s Elderly Services participants and lives in Johnson Volunteer House. Jordan says he is volunteering because “I want to make a positive difference in somebody’s life.” Jordan also looks forward to learning more about Appalachian culture.
Maureen Black
Maureen worked as a customer service supervisor in Wisconsin before joining CAP in May 2010. Maureen serves in Family Advocacy and lives in Jackson Volunteer House. She says she is volunteering because “my life is in transition and this is a huge step outside my comfort zone.”
