This week, Christian Appalachian Project commissioned 10 new volunteers for a year of Service, Community, and Spirituality in Appalachia. Each January, Christian Appalachian Project offers a smaller long-term volunteer orientation for applicants who would prefer a January start date over our traditional August admissions period. We’re so happy to have several volunteers starting their new year with CAP and dedicating 2014 to serving the poor and marginalized in Appalachia. All ten of our newly-commissioned CAP Volunteers with also be serving as CVN AmeriCorps Members.
We cap off orientation week with a Commissioning Service. The new volunteers hear reflections on the Volunteer Program’s core values of Service, Community and Spirituality, and then sign a covenant symbolizing their commitment to those values. Commissioning also gives CAP staff and “veteran” volunteers the opportunity to formally welcome new volunteers into the CAP family.
Take a minute to learn more about some of our new volunteers below. If you would like to join them in service to Appalachia, consider applying for our next orientation in August.
Our 2014 Long-term CAP Volunteers
Alanah is from Colorado and was going to Hesston College before coming to CAP. She chose CAP because she “feels like CAP really embodies everything that I am looking for right now, at this stage of my life.” Alanah is serving in Family Advocacy and lives in the Johnson Volunteer Community.
Bethany came to CAP from Georgia. She hopes to learn “how to live more simply, to learn more about how volunteer organizations work, and to learn more about Kentucky and the needs of its people." Bethany will be serving at Grateful Bread Food Pantry and lives at the Rockcastle Volunteer Community. She found CAP through the Catholic Volunteer Network.
Brad joined CAP as a long-term volunteer after being a counselor at Camp Andrew Jackson for two years. He is “hoping to gain some knowledge and experience in the construction field and also hoping to find some direction in my life.” Brad is serving in Housing and lives in the Johnson Volunteer Community.
Colton came to CAP from California. He previously volunteered with the Nevada Conservation Corps. He says he is volunteering with CAP because he wants “to gain valuable experience in many aspects of volunteering, to gain a new family, and to grow in my faith.” Colton serves in serves in Elderly Housing and lives in the Rockcastle Volunteer Community.
Ethan came to CAP from Virginia. He originally came to CAP as a short-term volunteer in September and decided to serve for a full year. Ethan lives in the McCreary Volunteer Community and will be serving in the Housing program. During his service, he “hopes to gain peace within myself so that I may know the Lord’s plan for me.”
Erin heard about CAP at Ichthus, a Christian Music Festival. She serves in Elderly Housing and lives in the Johnson Volunteer Community. She decided to volunteer because she “wants to live like Jesus did; serving and ministering to others. I want to live a life of worship to my heavenly Father.” Before coming to CAP she served in a local church in Tennessee and as a police officer.
Mary is from North Carolina and worked at a bank before coming to CAP. She came to CAP because she “felt like CAP was where God was calling me.” She found out about CAP through two current long-term volunteers, Jim and Debby. Mary is serving at the Eagle Child and Family Development Center and lives at the McCreary Volunteer Community.
Originally from Connecticut, Nate just completed one year of college at Southern Connecticut State University. He is hoping to “learn more about who I am and what I want to do with my life. I am excited to begin this new chapter in my life.” Nate is serving in Housing in Jackson County and is living in the Jackson Volunteer Community.
Shayla found CAP through AmeriCorps. She is volunteering with CAP because she “asked God to show me the light out of the darkness and I promptly found CAP. I’m happily fulfilling His will.” Shayla will be serving in Disaster Relief and lives in the Mt. Vernon Volunteer Community.
