Appalachia Service Project

Appalachia Service Project is a Christian home repair ministry, affiliated with the General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church, but open to all. They began in 1969 with 50 volunteers. Last year about 15,000 volunteers repaired homes for 400-500 low-income families in rural areas of Central Appalachia (28 states and 15 denominations were represented).

The goal of ASP is to make homes warmer, safer and drier for families in need. The communities in which ASP serves generally have poverty rates up to three times the national average. In the Central Appalachian region we serve, there are still:

1. 8,500 homes that lack adequate kitchens
2. 9,000 homes that lack complete plumbing, and
3. nearly half of the families have household incomes below $20,000.
   

The home repairs made can take place from the ground up to the roof, and everywhere in-between. Typical repairs include: repairing roofs, building room additions, providing wheelchair ramps, installing or repairing plumbing, updating unsafe wiring, securing foundations, digging drainage ditches, constructing porches and steps, installing insulation and siding, and weatherizing homes. They even provide first-time electricity and indoor plumbing for multiple families each year.

• ASP 2011 update
  

• ASP 2010 update
  

• ASP 2009 update