News

Long-term volunteers are without a doubt the lifeblood of Christian Appalachian Project and the reason why the CAP Volunteer Program exists in the first place. But short-term volunteers, those who commit anywhere from three weeks to eight months of their time, play a very important role in CAP.

There are more than 150 faith-based organizations that accept full-time volunteers. When one includes Peace Corps and AmeriCorps opportunities, the options where a volunteer could serve in the U.S. or abroad seem endless. So why would a person choose to volunteer in Appalachia?  It’s probably not the social scene, although our volunteers do find plenty of enjoyment in attending local festivals and camping in state and national parks. We know it’s not the money, and we can’t offer a masters degree.

WorkFest 2010 was a huge success: more than 400 college students served on 20 different jobsites throughout March, repairing homes, meeting the people of Appalachia and having a life-changing experience.

It's a question we hear alot at the CAP Volunteer Program, and it's a fair one. Volunteering for a year--or even for a few weeks--is a significant sacrifice for many people. But a lot of confusion exists around what it means exactly to "work for free." Although many people may write off full-time volunteerism as a financial impossibility, volunteering with CAP is more affordable than you might think.

Our new volunteers (not pictured: Nancy Tabor)
On Thursday, February 11, 2010, Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) Volunteer Program officially welcomed 13 new long-term volunteers at its winter Commissioning Service. Although some have been serving since October, many are just beginning their CAP journey.

Photo: AP/Getty Images

The Christian Appalachian Project Volunteer Program stands in solidarity and in prayer with the people of Haiti. Please remember those suffering and those who are assisting them in your prayers today.

Have you ever felt God calling you to do more? We have an urgent need for long-term volunteers in several areas, particularly in Housing and Child and Family Development.

We at the CAP Volunteer Program wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas. We hope you enjoy our video of Rich Layer, a perennial volunteer in our Christmas Basket program, reciting Luke's Christmas story from memory. May the Nativity Narrative help bring the true meaning of Christmas into your hearts this season.

For most people, the Christmas season probably begins shortly after Thanksgiving. For volunteers in CAP's Family Advocacy and Elderly Services programs, Christmas preparation begins in August. That's when volunteer caseworkers take Christmas Basket applications from families who cannot afford to provide gifts for their children, and elderly individuals who are often forgotten this time of year.