Participants

Located in Copper Hill, VA, Apple Ridge Farm offers an academic summer camp for the underserved youth of Roanoke, VA.  APEX groups stay and serve at the farm working on projects that prepare the farm for the upcoming summer camp.  Participants learn about and serve within the mission of Apple Ridge Farm - to transform the lives of our community’s underserved children and families through engagement in unparalleled educational, cultural and outdoor experience

The Morgan Scott Project, a social service agency and community development organization, seeks to meet the needs of low income families in Scott and Morgan counties in rural Tennessee.  APEX groups stay and serve with MSP and engage in projects like building wheelchair ramps, distributing food, painting, yard work, and other tasks of manual labor that support MSP and the local community.  APEX supports the mission of MSP to provide support that will bring positive, long range solutions.

Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity has worked alongside volunteers and future homeowners to build, renovate, and repair homes in southeastern West Virginia for more than 35 years, building over 345 homes. APEX groups serve on the build sites, engaging in service at all points in the home building process. They also serve in the ReStore, a thrift shop whose proceeds support the construction of Habitat houses in Greenbrier County. 

Community Partner:  MCC Appalachia Build 

MCC Appalachia Build (formerly SWAP) is a home repair ministry program in eastern Kentucky and West Virginia. Volunteers help families make their homes safe, warm and dry, while building relationships and learning about Appalachia. MCC Appalachia Build serves vulnerable communities in some of the most economically distressed counties in the nation. APEX Groups work with MCC staff on construction projects like building ramps and porches, or cleaning out homes.  

The Appalachian Institute at Wheeling University promotes research, service, and advocacy for and with the people of Appalachia to build healthier, stronger, and more sustainable communities. This is a site focused on learning about the social and environmental concerns of the region, while engaging in a variety of service in the community. 

Ashe County Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization that works in partnership with the people of Ashe County to eliminate substandard housing by building safe, affordable, decent housing with families in need. APEX groups serve on the build sites, engaging in service at all points in the home building process. They also serve in the ReStore, a thrift shop whose proceeds support the construction of Habitat houses, and in local food distribution to the food insecure.   

Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Hometown Habitat for Humanity proudly serves Surry, Wilkes, and Yadkin Counties in North Carolina. APEX groups serve on the build sites, engaging in service at all points in the home building process. They also serve in the ReStore, a thrift shop whose proceeds support the construction of Habitat houses.  

APEX groups stay and service at the Wade Center, which serves "In the heart of the community with the community in our heart". The Wade Center provides a safe, creative place for at-risk elementary school children to receive after-school help with their homework, reading and math skills, and computer proficiency.  APEX groups perform acts of service in the local community during the day and serve  in the afterschool program each evening.  

Activities reflect the pillars of APEX: Service, Community, Education and Reflection. 

Service varies from site to site. It may entail physical work such as house building, painting, or mulching. It also includes service of presence, such as engaging in conversation with community members and homeowners. After each day of service, there will be an opportunity to reflect individually and in a community. Community and Education are woven throughout the experience, with at least one 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.