Youth Serve the People of Appalachia
St. Vincent de Paul Parish
Twenty-eight teen and adult volunteers departed from St. Vincent de Paul Church in Stirling, NJ on Sunday July 30, 2023, for a one-week service trip to Appalachia. Their destination: Terra Alta, West Virginia. Their mission, unchanged over the 20+ year history of the St. Vincent De Paul Mission to Appalachia: to serve those in need.
Over the next week they offered friendship and much needed support to the homeowners of Preston County. The work for 2023 consisted of roof repairs and replacements, building new stairs and entry porches, hanging front doors, renovating kitchens, replacing trailer underpinning, and bringing a renewed sense of hope and motivation to the families helped along the way. The group spent their downtime in Camp Galilee where they enjoyed kayaking and relaxing at the lakefront, playing volleyball, and getting to know each other through late night water balloon fights and campfires. Accompanying the teens were adult volunteers – some first-time participants and others, veterans of past trips – who ran jobsites, prepared meals, lead reflections and provided guidance and encouragement even when projects weren’t going as planned.
On Saturday August 5, the group returned with boundless stories of new friends and long car rides all the while humming John Denver tunes about country roads, which has long been the unofficial theme song of the trip.
With Appalachia 2022 being a rebuilding year, many of the teens and adult volunteers were veterans returning to help breathe new life into the trip after a two-year hiatus brought on by Covid-19. In contrast, the 2023 roster boasted a group that was 20% larger than the previous year with over 40% of the group being first year participants. This growth proves that there is still a willingness and passion to help others.
This trip marks the twenty-first year since St. Vincent de Paul Parish youth first ventured to West Virginia to participate in the Diocese of Preston County’s Summer Home Repair Program. What makes this trip so special that teens and adult leaders keep returning?
Paul Delaney thinks it’s the opportunity to learn new skills in a fun environment that makes the trip so special. Returning for his eleventh year, Paul is a New Jersey contractor who travels to West Virginia ahead of the trip to scout job sites that the teens will work on over their week-long trip. He looks for jobs that require the right mix of skill levels for the group, so the teens who do the work will learn something new while making a difference in the Appalachian community. “Whether they’re repairing leaky roofs, building a wheelchair ramp, or even performing simple repairs for someone that can’t do it for themselves, it’s the teens that are doing the work,” explained Paul, “and the kids see what they’re capable of and always find a way to have fun.”
Danny Griffin has been volunteering on the trip since 2018 and is always eager to return. “We had a lot of new participants this year. I’m hopeful that our numbers continue to grow, and we can do even more when we come back next year. Even with our relatively small numbers we are still able to help so many people and I can’t wait to be back for 2024!”
Chris Fernandes, who attended past trips as both a teen and an adult leader, thinks it’s all the new friendships that make the trip so special. “It’s amazing to see how quickly strangers become friends, kids who meet at 6:30 on Sunday morning are best friends by Monday afternoon. It’s always fun to meet new people over our mini road trips, while working onsite, and unwinding at camp.” Chris looks forward to returning next year and is excited to see the trip continue to grow and expand.
Cozy Apuzzo, who was excited to return for her 5th year, encourages others to join the trip and reflects on what the trip means to her. “Appalachia is an incredible experience, and a large part of that is because of the people. We have the opportunity to meet and share stories with the homeowners that we’re serving throughout the week. You can really see the gratitude and appreciate the difference that even the smallest home repair project makes. Back at camp, we’re able to have fun with everyone from card games to volleyball tournaments. From the teamwork on the sites to the beautiful views, Appalachia is something that everyone should get to experience.”
Fr. John Calabro reflected on what the trip has meant to him over the years and how his perspective and role has changed since he started attending. “I first came to Preston County, West Virginia, with St. Vincent de Paul Church in the early 2000s. It was towards the end of my time in high school, and St. Vincent’s was just starting up what would become an annual mission trip. I stayed involved for several years, worked with some really talented leaders and young people, and met many wonderful homeowners through the Summer Home Repair program. This past July 30th, I again headed down with St. Vincent’s back to Preston County, however this time fulfilling a new role. This would be my first time returning on mission as a Catholic priest (having been ordained in 2019). Not having a work project of my own, I journeyed to each work site to visit our crews and meet homeowners. What a blessing that was. I was able to hear their stories and to see the difference our own young people were able to make under the leadership of many talented adults.”
“I think what struck me in a new way this past trip was the dedication of our young adult leaders. They led most of the work crews. After a good first day of work, as plans were revised, two of them drove quite a distance to acquire the right materials to continue their projects. They enlivened our discussions, guided our teen volunteers, and were forces to be reckoned with during volleyball. Most of all, it was good to witness a new generation stepping up as these young adults took their places as leaders in the community, sharing their faith and talent without asking for anything in return. We are all very blessed.”
All these efforts, stories, and experiences were made possible by generous donations from the local community which enabled the group to make a difference in the lives of almost a dozen residents of Preston County, West Viriginia. All the volunteers take great pride in the support that they have been able to provide and the projects they have completed in such a short amount of time and are eager to return in 2024 to help even more of those in need. Plans are already underway for next year’s trip, which is scheduled for July 28 to August 3, 2024. All those interested may contact St. Vincent de Paul parish house for more information.
The leaders of the trip would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Paul Delaney and Mike O’Mullan who continue to be the unsung heroes that make these trips happen year after year. THANK YOU!
About
St. Vincent de Paul Parish is located at 250 Bebout Ave., Stirling, NJ. We are a Catholic community rooted in the Eucharist and committed to the poor. Join us as we celebrate our life in Christ. For more information visit stvincentschurch.org.
Courtesy photos
