Alderson Ministerial Association (Alderson)

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Contact:  Dr. Bill Bryan
  P.O. Box 456
  Alderson, WV 24910
  Email:  dr_bill_bryan@yahoo.com
  Phone:  304.646.8631
  Fax:  304.445.7854 (Call first)

The Alderson Ministerial Association (AMA) is a non-profit, an ecumenical ministry of the local Baptist, Catholic, Church of God, Methodist, Nazarene and Presbyterian churches.  The pastors of the churches serve as members and officers of the AMA.  Our ministry includes a Thrift Store,  a Food Pantry, Benevolence Assistance, work Projects, and ecumenical services/fellowships during Thanksgiving, Advent, and Lent.  Proceeds from our Thrift Store ministry supply necessary funds for our Food Pantry, Benevolence, and Work Projects ministries.  We also receive assistance from denominational agencies, grants, and our state food bank for the Food Pantry ministry.  We employ a part-time bookkeeper but have no other permanent paid staff.  The ministers serve in various volunteer capacities for AMA as part of their ministry in the community.  Keeping our operating costs low allows us to do more good with our Thrift Store proceeds. We serve several hundred families each year through our ministries which serve not only those living in Alderson but for a surrounding radius of 15-20 miles.

Alderson is a small community with about 900 residents living along both sides of the Greenbrier River in the mountains of easter West Virgina.  The community is lower economic, working class families.  Individuals are employed in farming, local service sector, and at the local federal prison camp for women.

Project/Focus:  We need work teams of not more than twenty persons each who can complete work projects in our community during the summer. These teams will be provided with necessary materials and instruction for their jobs.  Typical jobs include re-roofing, building and repairing porches, installing handicapped access ramps, and various carpentry repair, electrical, plumbing, and painting projects. These projects are targeted to help the elderly, economically disadvantaged, and other applicants without the means to complete the work without our assistance.  Applicants are pre-screened by the AMA, and materials and work needs ar assessed by a competent volunteer repair coordinator.

Teams should bring their own tools (e.g., hammers, crow bars, screw-drivers) and other equipment (e.g., electrical saws, drills, saws-all) to supplement those available from AMA.  Each team should have at least one person competent in basic carpentry and repair work.  The AMA will provide a volunteer coordinator to direct the work to be done and to help the team start the project and inspect it when complete.  However, an AMA volunteer coordinator will not be available to supervise the team full-time.

Educational/Advocacy Components:  Our AMA volunteer staff secures the use of the Community Center, the cook, and the work site materials.  Team leaders will be responsible for worship and reflection services for the group each evening.  Teams are encouraged to participate in the local church services of their choice during the week.  If requested, evening activities and information sessions about the community can be scheduled.  Social justice awareness related to the local and federal prison for women can be provided by volunteers working at the local Hospitality House which serves the visiting families of those confined at the prison.

Time: 

• 2 teams during the last three weeks of June 2013
• 3 teams during July 2013, but not during the week of June 30 - July 6
• 1 team during the week of July 29 - August 5, 2013

Group Size:  Maximum of 60 persons per team.  If team is larger, call to discuss.

Minimum Age:  16 years with permission of parent(s) or guardians.

Adult to Youth Ratio:  Youth must be supervised by adult team members at all times.  A ratio of at least one adult for each five youth is recommended with a minimum of two adults for each team.  If boys and girls are on the same team, there should be an adult of both sexes serving as supervisors.

Accommodations: The teams stay in our local Community Center which has separate bunk rooms and bathrooms for males and females.  The Community Center also has a kitchen and dining facility.  The AMA employs a cook for the team who prepares an evening meal each day of the team's stay.  Breakfast and lunch are provided for self-service use by the teams.

Costs:  $245 per person for the week; includes room, 3 meals per day, and materials for use at the work site.

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Appalachian South Folklife Center (Pipestem)

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Contact: Shelli Osborne
  P.O. Box 10 Rocky Mount Road
  Pipestem, WV 25979
  E-Mail:  the_folks@folklifecenter.org
  Phone: 304.466.0626
  Web site: www.folklifecenter.org  

The Appalachian South Folklife Center (ASFC) is a progressive, nonprofit education organization dedicated to a mountain heritage of freedom and self-reliance; a peaceful place where people of all ages, races, faiths and origins can share community work and creativity.

Project/Focus: Work is mainly focused on home rehabilitations for people in need but also includes other community development work such as stream clean-up, helping other non-profits and working around the center supporting on-going work in the community.

Educational/Advocacy Components: Center staff will provide work in community and at Folklife Center, develop field trips, and evening cultural programming. Sessions on Appalachian culture are provided.

Time: Registration is ongoing, but fewer opportunities are available in the winter months.

Group Size: 10–50 people

Minimum Age:  13 years

Adult to Youth Ratio: 1:5

Accommodations: Dorm-style lodging in Folklife Center buildings. Fully stocked kitchen provided (groups must bring and cook their own food).  Group must also provide bedding or sleeping bags.  Chapel on-site. Ample recreational opportunities available.

Hook-ups for recreational vehicles also available.

Cost: $195 per person per week includes lodging, work site supervision, and education programs.

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Bethlehem Farm (Pence Springs)

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Contact:Eric Fitts, Director
  Moira Reilly, Hiring Coordinator
  Laura Zerhusen, Volunteer Coordinator 
  P.O. Box 415
  Talcott, WV 24981
  E-Mail:   volunteer@bethlehemfarm.net
  Phone: 304.445.7143
  Web site:  www.bethlehemfarm.net/main/  

Bethlehem Farm is a Catholic community in Appalachia that strives to transform lives through serving the local community and teaching sustainability.  Volunteers join us in living out the Gospel cornerstones of prayer, community, simplicity and service.

Project/Focus: During a week at Bethlehem Farm you can expect to work hard.  You can expect to wake up early and go to bed exhausted every night.  You can expect to be challenged and supported physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  You can expect to have a voice which others will listen to and respect.  You can expect to pray in both traditional and creative ways.  YOu can expect to meet nature face to face, to become friends with donkeys and pigs.  You can expect to prepare meals from scratch and spend time in the garden.  You can expect to feel uncomfortable at times and at home with complete strangers.  You can expect to see God, your friends, and the world in which you live from an entirely new perspective.

Educational/Advocacy Components: Staff provides most of the programming for the group weeks including orientation, introduction to Catholic Social Teaching, teachings on eating and living sustainably, as well as leading large groups prayers on topics such as Community, Prayer, Service, Simplicity, Care for Creation, Sacrifice, & seeing God in All Things.  There is passive programming throughout the Farm on the history of Appalachia, the affect of mountaintop removal mining and fair trade, and local foods.  Participants will also lead a large group prayer experience with their work group and participate in several reflection activities.

Time: Week-long service retreats available (see calendar on website for dates).  Priority registration is August 15th for March and May college weeks, September 30th for spring and summer high school weeks, Feb. 1st for Adult week, Family week and October college weeks, but some spots may be available past these dates.  Social justice retreat offered over President's Day weekend.

Group Size: Negotiable (average 6-12)

Minimum Age:  16 years

Adult to Youth Ratio: 1:5  Must have one chaperone of each gender participant you bring.

Accommodations:  bunk rooms in large, shared farmhouse with indoor bathrooms as well as outdoor showers & compositing toilets.  Meals are provided with homemade, local, organic food.  Vegetarians welcome.

Cost: $275 per participant.

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