Mary, Mother of God Church is participating in an   

Appalachian Mission Work Camp

 

WHEN: TBD, 2025

WHERE: Dunlow, Wayne County, West Virginia

COST: $350 (See below for what this covers)

FORMS TO PRINT AND FILL OUT: 

Work Camp Participant Application
Medical Release

PURPOSE OF PROGRAM

The Wayne County Work Camp provides a summer service experience for youth and adults who desire a “hands on” opportunity to put their Christian faith into practice by serving those who are in need. We will come together with three objectives in mind:

• To glorify God by sharing the love of Christ 

• To address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of people by working together to make homes warm, safe, and dry 

• To experience Christian community as we live, work and worship together.

STATEMENT OF HISTORY

The Wayne County Work Camp is the result of individuals who, having served in various work camps in West Virginia and throughout Appalachia, felt a call to address the housing needs of the people of southern Wayne County. Since the Work Camp’s beginning in 1983, thousands of youths and adults from many different denominations and many parts of the country have come to live, work and worship with the people in our community. The Christian service is an ecumenical effort sponsored by the Cabwaylingo Appalachia Mission, West Virginia. 

 Cabwaylingo Appalachian Mission is to enrich the lives of others by loving, serving, leading, and nurturing in the name of Jesus. Envisioning a God-sized miracle transforming the Dunlow region into a productive, supportive, Christ-centered community of healthy families.  Cabwaylingo Appalachian Missions is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established to serve the people of the Wayne County, West Virginia community through various services.

 The community has been decimated by the departure of coal mining jobs, especially over the past 5-6 years, which were previously their economic bedrock. To put things in perspective, the state of West Virginia ranks 48th in teacher's pay, but those same teachers earn in the top 5% of salaries in the county. The town of Dunlow sits in a very isolated area; it's about 50 minutes away from the nearest fast-food restaurants and supermarkets. CAM seeks to alleviate the crippling poverty that devastates the region as well as to help break this cycle of poverty for their children.

CAMP ENROLLMENT

Approximately 100 persons will participate in the Work Camp.

WORK PROJECTS

The type of work to be performed includes painting, carpentry, winterization, roofing, porch and stair building, and other home repairs. While the actual physical work is very important, we encourage participants to get to know the families they will be serving. In addition to the great and challenging projects, the Work Camp has been building one home (recently increased to two homes) per year from foundation up.

THE AREA

Wayne County, located in the southwestern tip of West Virginia, is a rural area with rugged mountains and deep valleys. The area is typical of much of Appalachia - rich natural resources, primarily timber and coal, and rugged, hilly land traversed by winding roads, sharing the narrow valley floor with creeks, which often overflow their banks. With the economic challenges of high unemployment, declining population, and low tax revenues, the communities and residents are faced with many problems.

CAMP LOCATION

We gather at the Cabwaylingo State Park. Located about an hour south of Huntington on US 152, the park is nestled in a beautiful forest with hiking trails, and swimming. Participants will be housed in rustic men’s and women’s dormitories that have bunk beds and bathroom facilities. Adults will be housed with teenagers from their Church or school. Breakfasts and dinners will be prepared by the camp staff and served in the camp’s dining hall. There is a shower house located next to the barracks.

ORGANIZATION OF WORK CREWS

When individuals arrive at camp, they will be divided among crews with at least one other person from the same church or school in their crew. Working in small groups of six to eight individuals, participants will work together for the week to complete one or more projects. Following breakfast, each day, the service crews will leave camp for their sites. Crews will return from work in the late afternoon.

COST FOR PARTICIPANTS
A $350.00 fee includes transportation by van, Saturday hotel accommodations (including dinner and breakfast), room and board from Monday through Sunday, programming, T-shirts, and project expenses.  If the fee is a financial difficulty, we will offer scholarships to sponsor the full or partial fee coverages.

 Participants should also bring extra money for stopping for food during the van ride to and from WV and the Wednesday night dinner trip.

 In addition to this fee an additional donation goes towards a group contribution for building materials. It is suggested that participants obtain some or all of these funds by soliciting contributions from people who would sponsor their weeklong Mission.   There will be opportunities in Church.

INSURANCE
It is essential that each participant show proof of medical insurance.

TRANSPORTATION
Van or SUV rentals along with personal vehicles.

SCHEDULE