In September, Christian Appalachian Project commissioned 28 new volunteers for a year of Service, Community, and Spirituality in Appalachia. As is our tradition in CAP, all current volunteers and many CAP employees gathered to prayerfully commission these volunteers. View pictures from Commissioning.
Volunteers came from fourteen different states, and included four from Kentucky and five from Illinois. The new class also includes ten 2013 high school and college graduates, six volunteers who have previously served long-term with other service organizations, and 11 who have previously served with CAP as a YouthFest, WorkFest, summer camp, group, or long-term volunteer.
We're thrilled to have such an outstanding group of volunteers dedicating themselves to serving God and Appalachia this year, and we encourage you to read on to learn a little more about these men and women and what is motivating them to serve. If you would like to join our mission as a long-term volunteer, we are currently accepting applications for our January 2014 orientation class. We have a variety of AmeriCorps and other placements available in home repair, disaster relief, elderly services, hunger and poverty relief, human resources, and volunteer hospitality.
Our 2013-14 Long-term CAP Volunteers
Catherine learned about CAP by attending WorkFest--CAP's alternative college spring break program--with St. Catharine College in Kentucky, from which she graduated in 2012. She says she is serving with CAP because “I hope to learn more about myself and what drives me. I am also hoping I gain confidence and a sense of peace with who I am so I can take the next career step with a strong sense of purpose.” She serves in the Housing program and lives in the McCreary Volunteer Community.
Robert was working with the homeless in Chicago when he learned about CAP. He decided to serve here because “I feel called by the Holy Spirit to be of service to people in need and to stretch myself…” He serves in Educational and Recreational Programming out of CAP's Camp Shawnee and lives in the Johnson Volunteer Community.
Erinn is from Iowa and graduated from Coe College in 2012. She says she chose CAP because “I want to step out of the materialistic world and get to know myself on a deeper, healthier level and I feel CAP can help.” Erinn serves in one of our domestic violence centers.
JB was working at a screen printing company in Missouri before coming to CAP. He chose CAP because “CAP’s Housing program was the only one that I saw which allows an inexperienced volunteer to serve full-time on a long-term basis.” JB is serving in Housing in the Sandy Valley and lives in the Johnson Volunteer Community.
Priscilla is from Jackson County, Kentucky and serves in Educational and Recreational Programming out of CAP's Camp Andrew Jackson. She was inspired to apply as a long-term volunteer after serving as a summer volunteer at camp. She decided to become a volunteer because “I loved the others I met in CAP and wanted to continue my service with them.” Priscilla lives independent of a volunteer house.
Jennifer came to CAP from northern Michigan to serve as a caseworker in Housing and Elderly Services in McCreary County. She is hoping to “continue to grow in my faith and gain some experience as a case manager.” Jennifer lives in the McCreary Volunteer Community.
Rebecca worked as an administrative assistant at a district office for the United Methodist Church in Virginia before coming to CAP. She says she is volunteering because “I have been involved in many short-term missions and am at a point in my life that I want to do more and I feel that CAP is where I am being called to serve.” Rebecca serves at the Eagle Child and Family Development Center and lives at the McCreary Volunteer Community.
Greg served as a CAP volunteer in the 1970s, and returned after retiring as a printer operator in Cincinnati. He is hoping to learn humility from his new service experience. Greg serves in Housing and lives in the Rockcastle Volunteer Community.
Elizabeth attended WorkFest for the past two years before beginning her long-term service. She says she is volunteering with CAP because “I believe God is calling me to use my skills to serve others.” Elizabeth serves in Housing and lives in the Johnson Volunteer Community.
Rebekah came to CAP from Illinois. She previously volunteered with Brethren Volunteer Service and is hoping to get “more experience and a deeper relationship with God” while serving. Rebekah serves at the Family Life Child Development Center and lives in the Mount Vernon Volunteer Community.
Teleia is from the suburbs of Chicago and came to CAP after serving in FEMA Corps. She chose CAP because she wants to “continue to grow in my faith, serve others, and figure out what I want to do with my life.” Teleia serves in Elderly Housing and lives in the Rockcastle Volunteer Community.
Judy and Tom came to CAP from Missouri, where Judy taught elementary and outdoor education and Tom worked in IT. Judy says she is volunteering because “I want to grow in my personal relationship with God and to deepen my commitment to service of my brothers and sisters on the planet.” Tom hopes to “experience more of God’s love through his people.” Judy serves in Educational and Recreational Programming in the Sandy Valley and Tom serves in Elderly Services. They also serve as caretakers for Camp Shawnee.
John is from Florida and served with Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest before coming to CAP. He volunteers because “my life and faith dictate serving others to find social and economic justice.” John lives independently of a volunteer house and serves in Elderly Housing in the Sandy Valley.
Glenn came to CAP after earning his Masters at Bethany Theological Seminary and serving as a chaplain at a state park in Pennsylvania. He is volunteering with CAP because “I feel led to work with economically disadvantaged people, particularly in the Appalachian region where hardship is so widespread. I consider it my Christian duty to care for ‘the least of these.’” Glenn lives in the Johnson Volunteer Community and serves in Elderly Services.
Yujin heard about CAP after his sister came to WorkFest in 2013. He serves in Housing and lives in the Johnson Volunteer Community. He decided to volunteer because "I want to give back to the community, it will be a very helpful experience in my life, and will help me learn to take a step back.” Yujin is originally from Korea and most recently from Massachusetts.
Debra came to CAP with her husband from Charlotte, North Carolina, where she worked in elder care. She decided to volunteer because “my husband and I have always wanted to spend some time in volunteer service.” Debra lives with her husband independent of a volunteer house and serves in Elderly Services in the Sandy Valley.
James came to CAP with his wife from Charlotte, North Carolina, where he recently retired. He wishes to learn “how to open myself to others, especially those in need, and to learn their struggles, their lives, and their relationship to God.” James lives with his wife independent of a volunteer house and serves in Elderly Housing in the Sandy Valley.
Symmer found CAP through AmeriCorps and was inspired to serve her country as a CAP AmeriCorps Member. She came to CAP from Dallas, where she just graduated high school. She decided “instead of going straight to college to take a year to serve in a volunteer organization.” Symmer serves at the Grateful Bread Food Pantry and lives at the Mount Vernon Volunteer Community.
Carmen came to YouthFest for three years before becoming a long-term volunteer. Originally from the Syracuse area, Carmen is hoping to get “a closer relationship with God, and a better understanding of the world of service.” Carmen lives in the Johnson Volunteer Community and serves in Elderly Housing.
Kelsey joined CAP as a long-term volunteer after graduating from the College of Mount St. Joseph. She previously participated in WorkFest and served as a counselor at Camp Andrew Jackson for two years. She wants “to give back to a community that is in need.” Kelsey is serving in Housing in Jackson County and lives in the Jackson Volunteer Community.
Anna recently earned her degree in English from Bellarmine University. She wanted to volunteer because she wants to “do justice work and volunteering seems like the starting point that will work best for me.” Anna serves in Educational and Recreational Programming in Jackson and Owsley Counties and lives at the Jackson Volunteer Community.
Originally from Ohio, Kaitlyn attended Bellarmine University. She first came to CAP in 2011 for WorkFest. She is “excited to learn in a different environment with new people in a creative way.” Kaitlin is serving at the Family Life Child Development Center in Rockcastle County and lives at the Rockcastle Volunteer Community.
Elizabeth graduated from Bellarmine University with a degree in Psychology. After attending WorkFest, she decided to apply to serve with CAP. She wants to “learn what it means to truly be the hands and feet of Christ and live a life selflessly serving others.” Elizabeth is serving at one of our domestic abuse centers.
Theresa came to CAP from the University of Notre Dame, where she studied English and Medieval Studies. She is originally from northern Wisconsin and is volunteering with CAP because “it will give me so many opportunities to learn and grow.” Theresa serves in Elderly Services in Rockcastle County and lives in the Rockcastle Volunteer Community.
Originally from Illinois, Celeste graduated from Bellarmine University. She participated in WorkFest in 2010 and is hoping to “learn to be in solidarity with those less fortunate, to learn the daily struggle of those marginalized.” Celeste is serving at the Family Life Child Development Center in Rockcastle County and lives in the Mount Vernon Volunteer Community.
Janet graduated from the University of Notre Dame in May with a degree in Biology. She says she came to CAP because "I had a poverty studies minor in college, but I don’t think I can really understand what I learned in class without going to do service somewhere and really learning to see the world through the eyes of the poor and marginalized.” Janet serves at the Grateful Bread Food Pantry and lives at the Rockcastle Volunteer Community.
