Participants

Community Partners:  The towns of Covington and Clifton Forge, VA

Allegheny was formerly a large railroad town that had become much of an afterthought for the region with the decline of the coal industry. The center of town is filled with buildings reminiscent of an era most of America has passed by, each containing an infinite amount of proud memories and stories one could only hope to learn. Surrounded by mountains on all sides, the sunset fills the sky with an artist’s dream palette of color, and paints the beautiful landscape with a warm golden hue.

In the context of APEX, Alleghany is heavily a community centered site. Our site contact, Don, introduced us to a different community center or Church every morning and evening for breakfast and dinner. There was no one organization that we volunteered with, rather a council of Alleghany citizens who received and approved requests throughout the year for Saint Joe’s students to assist with different projects or needs. At breakfast we would receive the different sites for the whole day, sometimes going to one in the morning and another in the afternoon. One day we stripped a house to provide affordable housing for professors at the local community college with Shorty; another day we performed groundwork for Boy’s Home of Virginia, a boarding school for boys from unstable homes, with Corny, and on another day we tiled the floor of a local church’s religious education center to get it up to health and safety codes. Alleghany is special because of the resilient, tight-knit community that is found there. A truly special place.

- Nick Palermo ‘22

Community Partner: Apple Ridge Farm

I had the utmost privilege to immerse myself in the community of Apple Ridge Farm as an APEX leader this past spring. For over forty years, Apple Ridge Farm has provided a space for the youth of Roanoke to come together for summer camps, environmental education, and afterschool programs. The service of our immersion revolved around preparing the campus of Apple Ridge Farm for their upcoming summer camp. We handled tasks such as building a stone canal, mulching the trails, clearing hazardous branches, and cleaning classrooms. 

What distinguished this experience from a mere service trip was the opportunity to encounter the staff of Apple Ridge Farm and the community of Roanoke. We met Inge, our site facilitator, who was kind, selfless, and embodied gratitude for us and this region more than anyone I have ever met. We met Peter Lewis, the founder of Apple Ridge farm, who taught us about perseverance and the importance of being compassionate to nature. We met many local members of Roanoke at the weekly jamboree who displayed an unwavering love for this community through song, dance, and quality time with one another. The people of this community are what made this experience an unforgettable one, and Apple Ridge Farm will continue to serve as a beacon of light and hope for the city of Roanoke.

- Tommy McBride ‘23

Community Partner: Wade Center

Passion. Hard work. Family - these are the first words that come to mind when I think about the community of Bluefield, West Virginia. Bluefield lies on the southern border of West Virginia and has a tight knit population of roughly 10,000 individuals. The bulk of our service in Bluefield took place at the Wade Center, a non-profit organization in the heart of Bluefield that provides a safe space for the children of the community to learn and grow. We participated in service with the children such as assisting them with homework, leading communal prayer, and playing fun bonding games. We also immersed ourselves in the community through environmental stewardship for a prominent park, care package assembly for the Bluefield Union Mission, and spending time with the residents of a local nursing home. Everyday, I am thankful for the incredible group, leaders, and facilitators I was blessed with for this experience. APEX opened my eyes and heart to the Appalachian region.

- Tommy McBride ‘23

Community Partner: Morgan Scott Project

The community of Deer Lodge is a quaint little town located in Morgan County, Tennessee. While in Deer Lodge, we served with the Morgan Scott Project, which is an organization that prides itself on helping others help themselves. While working with them, our group was working on several projects throughout the community. Some of us were working with the thrift store on-site; others were accompanying community members in building a ramp to the entrance to a home or renovating the inside of a house. Regardless of which project we were working on, we were surrounded by amazing and welcoming people who make the area of Deer Lodge what it is. There was never a dull moment and we were welcomed with open arms from the moment we arrived.

- Stephanie Zellner ‘22

Community Partner: Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity

Coming Soon

Community Partner:  MCC SWAP

Harlan, Kentucky is one of the homes to the SWAP Program, which stands for Sharing With Appalachian People, and in Harlan, we did exactly that! SWAP connects with an array of groups from different schools, universities, churches, and more, to provide them with opportunities to serve with and for the people of Appalachia. Service with SWAP takes all forms, from building decks to encountering community members, we were able to truly immerse ourselves within the community. APEX participants also were educated by representatives of SWAP as they informed us of statistics regarding Harlan, led Bible studies, and created a space for mutual learning and relationship building. This education then translated into the service we did in Harlan, creating an even deeper connection to and love for both community members and service.

- Julianne McGuire ‘23

Community Partner: Housing Development Alliance

Located along the banks of the North Fork Kentucky River, my group and I were lucky enough to spend a week in Hazard.  We served with an organization called the Housing Development Alliance to help construct and repair affordable housing in the area. What inspired me the most about Hazard was how committed their residents were to put their city back on the map. After decades of population decline, Hazard’s population has risen nearly 20% over the last ten years! We got to learn more about the city’s downtown revitalization efforts, where more and more small businesses are opening. A stroll through their downtown will allow you to see some of the incredible murals created by the Appalachian Arts Alliance. We also got to watch the Hazard High School boys basketball team win their sectional championship and earn a spot in the state tournament. Overall, I think our time spent in Hazard truly allowed us to grow as individuals, as we experienced the power of true community and solidarity.

- Kevin Finn ‘22

Community Partner: Appalachia Habitat for Humanity

Not far from the big city of Nashville lies the hidden gem of Robbins, Tennessee. While immersed in the Robbins community, we hiked, worked, played, bonded, explored, communicated, learned, and grew as a family. When arriving in Robbins, we began our immersion with Kevin Green, a local community member, who led us on a breathtaking hike through the mountains. Kevin has worked with APEX for many years and was the first community partner who taught us about himself, his family, his experiences, and the history of Robbins. Our service was through Habitat for Humanity, where we worked alongside three amazing community members to assemble and build window and door frames. These men became great mentors over the span of the week. They taught us how to properly use and handle equipment, and we quickly gained a lot of respect for their hard work and dedication to helping build these homes. Another location we worked with was the Habitat ReStore. ReStores are home improvement stores that accept small and large donations of new or gently used materials. We helped transport, organize, and rearrange furniture, books, kitchenware, and clothing.

The best part of our time in Robbins was interacting with the amazing people of Appalachia. No matter where we went or who we talked to, we were always welcomed and treated as if we were family. Whether at bible study, mass, playing at the local park with children, supporting local food establishments, or building, the community members embraced us with open arms into their community. Not only were they concerned about our well-being while constantly feeding us, but they also spent time getting to know us and learning more about our school, interests, and lives back home. Although we only stayed in Appalachia for one week, a piece of our hearts remains in a small town that we call home.

- Nicole Grossbaum ‘23

Community Partner: The Town of St. Paul

Coming Soon

Community Partner:  Appalachian Institute at Wheeling University

Wheeling, West Virginia is such a welcoming and calm environment where people could truly be themselves. Not only were we able to serve with the people from Wheeling, we were able to learn about the culture and the overall story of the city. On our journey, we served at schools, churches, backyards, and a community center. At the school, a few APEX members were able to observe and aid the students in different subject areas like math and reading. At the churches we would make packages that included soap and other essentials necessary for community members. We would serve in people’s backyards by assisting with gardening and other types of clean ups. One of our last service opportunities in Wheeling, West Virginia was painting the community pool area which would allow for them to open for the summer. Many families in Wheeling enjoy this community center and we were able to paint the outside and inside of the pool house. 

This experience allowed for me and my peers to get to know more about the Appalachian region and the challenges the community members of Wheeling face everyday. We were able to learn more about the coal industry and how it has affected families all over West Virginia. As a group we were able to get to know Tom, a singer and songwriter who sings about his and his peers' experiences in Appalachia. Tom and his honest and intentional conversation with us made us further understand the importance of emerging ourselves in such an authentic community. 

-Gabby Santos ‘23

Community Partner:  Ashe County Habitat for Humanity

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, West Jefferson is a welcoming and supportive community. While in West Jefferson, we served with Ashe County Habitat for Humanity, NEST Alliance, The Sharing Center, and North Carolina State Parks. At Habitat, we help build the foundation for a new house while working alongside a future home-owner and Ashe County Habitat for Humanity contractor.  At NEST Alliance, a non-profit which focuses on nurturing and empowering underprivileged children, we organized rooms of clothing donations. The women who run NEST are true advocates for all children, and it was awesome to serve in their mission. At the Sharing Center, the food bank of Ashe County, we packaged food for members of the community. The Sharing Center illustrates what togetherness and solidarity looks like. At the North Carolina State Parks, we assisted Park Rangers Luke, Ethan, and McIntyre in getting ready for the coming summer season. We dug ditches, cleaned out river entryways, and cleared paths. The rangers also shared their vast knowledge about nature and we learned a lot about the world around us. 

I think that we can all agree that the most special part of our time in West Jeff was getting to know the community members who greeted us with open arms. Every night we ate dinner with a different Church community. By listening to the stories of others and sharing our own, our intentional conversations in West Jeff personified that of the human family. To sum it up, while in West Jefferson, we were immersed in a community which truly values solidarity and intentionality.  

- Regan Larkin ‘22

Community Partner: Hometown Habitat for Humanity

During our time in Wilkesboro, we worked closely with Habitat for Humanity, working in the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. In the Habitat ReStore, we reorganized the store by assisting in unloading trucks and stocking shelves. We also assisted in helping build a house for future homebuyers with tasks such as painting the walls, hammering nails into wood, and shoveling gravel. We spent time getting to know the community’s Habitat volunteers throughout the week during these tasks.  The most memorable moments for me during the immersion were having dinners with the community members at several local churches. The community welcomed each of us with open arms. We had the opportunity to sit with different people each night and get to know each other. We were able to have intentional conversations and listen to the stories of the community members while they also learned about us. 

-Maggie Flaherty ‘22

Typically, most days will include engaging in some form of service.  At some sites, this may entail physical work such as house building, painting, mulching, or laying concrete, while other sites may have different and varied needs.  After each day of service, there will be time for community-building, reflection, and relaxation. In addition, there is generally one cultural day dedicated to learning about the area you are visiting.

Participants will find out their site at the first Community Meeting in January.

All meetings leading up to APEX week will be with your site group.  Groups will spend time getting to know each other, learning about their specific site, reflecting on the Mission of APEX and reviewing logistics for the experience.

After returning from APEX Week, groups will gather two more times to reflect and integrate the experience.  Conversations will focus on how we can engage in the work of justice and advocacy for the region and how we can live in solidarity with the communities of Appalachia.

All sites are within driving distance.  All participants will travel by vehicle to their site.

Each set of site leaders will be sending out a packing list to each participant. Typically, it is one suitcase/duffel bag, a small carry-on bag, a sleeping bag and a pillow.. Some items include: jeans, boots, work-shirts, hats, gloves, and clothes to wear after each day.