Community Living

Photo courtesy Sarah Smith

“You will learn so much about yourself, and it will be an amazing experience, but it won’t always be easy. Open up to your housemates. Be honest with them. If you’re tired, tell them. If you’re hurt, tell them. The more you open up to your community, the more your community will open up to you.”

–CAP volunteer on living in community

Just as community is essential to the Christian life, it is essential to volunteer life at Christian Appalachian Project. Joining a volunteer community is much more than simply having roommates and sharing living space; it is an intentional commitment to sharing an experience and supporting one another as a community. At your CAP volunteer house, you may develop friendships that will last decades, experience silly conversations that turn into rich theological discussions and explore the joys (and at times sorrows) of your housemates’ cooking.  You will also be challenged at times. Living with people not of your choosing will always be an adjustment, and effective communication is critical. You may not become best friends with everyone in your house, but never again in your life will you find a group of people so singularly dedicated to serving others. Community can be difficult, but it can also be an incredible avenue toward personal growth.

Most CAP volunteers are not from eastern Kentucky, so living in community also means exploring your new home together. Popular social activities among CAP volunteers include hiking or camping in Kentucky’s gorgeous state parks and getting together with other volunteer communities for game nights, contra dancing or other outings. CAP has about 60 long-term volunteers all living in eastern Kentucky, so you’re sharing this experience not just with your housemates, but the larger CAP community as well. As a CAP volunteer, you have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share your passion for serving people in need with other volunteers in a spirit of community and Christian love.

There are seven volunteer communities located in different communities throughout eastern Kentucky:

• Jackson Volunteer Community  near McKee, KY
• Johnson Volunteer Community near Paintsville, KY
• Magoffin Volunteer Community in Salyersville, KY
• Rockcastle Volunteer Community near Mt. Vernon, KY
• McCreary Volunteer Community in Parkers Lake, KY
• Floyd Volunteer Community in Martin, KY
• Mt. Vernon Volunteer Community near Mt. Vernon, KY

Jackson Volunteer Community

Jackson Volunteer Community was built in the 1990s specifically to be a volunteer community. It houses twelve long-term volunteers from Educational and Recreational Programming, Elderly Services, Housing, Family Advocacy and Volunteer Groups, plus several short-term volunteers throughout the year. Located in the Cumberland Valley Region, the house is nestled in the Daniel Boone National Forest and is just a short walk from Camp Andrew Jackson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Johnson Volunteer Community

Johnson Volunteer Community opened in 2005 on the campus of CAP’s Sandy Valley Region headquarters. The large house accommodates 13-14 long-term and short-term volunteers in Child and Family Development, Housing, Elderly Services, Elderly Housing and Disaster  Relief.

 

 

Magoffin Volunteer Community

Magoffin Volunteer Community is a Sandy Valley Region community of seven long-term volunteers serving in CAP’s Elderly Housing, Housing, Family Advocacy, Volunteer Groups and Elderly Services programs. The house adjoins Magoffin Group House, which hosts volunteer groups throughout the year.

 

 

Rockcastle Volunteer Community

Rockcasle Volunteer Community is located on the campus of CAP’s Cumberland Valley Region headquarters. The house accommodates thirteen long-term and short-term volunteers in the Child and Family Development, Food Pantry, Thrift Store and Family Advocacy programs. Many of these programs are within walking or biking distance of the house, which is also located across the street from Mt. Vernon Volunteer Community. Because the Volunteer Program office is located in Mt. Vernon, many prospective long-term volunteers stay with the Rockcastle Community during their interview.

McCreary Volunteer Community

McCreary Volunteer Community, in CAP’s Cumberland Valley Region, is located on CAP’s Eagle campus, which houses a community center, a Child and Family Development Center and the Family Advocacy office. In addition to a CDFC and Family Advocacy volunteer, the community is also the home of two long-term Housing volunteers and an Elderly Services caseworker. The house was completed in October 2011.

 

 

 

Floyd Volunteer Community

Floyd Volunteer Community is the home of twelve long-term volunteers and two short-term volunteers from Housing, Elderly Services, Elderly Housing and Child and Family Development. Floyd House is located in CAP’s Sandy Valley Region.

 

 

 

 

Mt. Vernon Volunteer Community

Reopened in December 2009 after a stint as an administrative office, Mt. Vernon Volunteer Community accommodates six long-term volunteers in Child and Family Development, Disaster Relief, Food Pantry and Elderly Services. The house is located on the campus of the Cumberland Valley Region headquarters and is a stone’s throw away from Rockcastle Volunteer Community.

 

The majority of CAP volunteers live in one of these fully furnished houses, each one being unique and accommodating different numbers of people. When possible, each long-term volunteer has his or her own room and shares bathroom facilities, living room space, kitchen and laundry facilities. Volunteers make a commitment to eating together as a community Monday-Thursday. They take turns preparing the evening meal and after eating the meal together, they share in a time of prayer and reflection. All volunteers also share in the chores and upkeep of the house.

For volunteers who are retired and/or married and would prefer not to live in community, CAP offers an Independent Living option.