St. Martin's Teens Volunteer in Appalachia During Vacation

For most teenagers, summer vacation is a time to chill when it’s hot, hang out where there are no adults and work at jobs that are supposed to build character but only build resentment at the cost of college.

But for a group of teenagers from St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Martinsville, summer vacation is a time to help others who may not be as fortunate.

For the 14th year, teens from the church, joined by peers from neighboring Episcopal parishes, went to Appalachia to join a volunteer effort to make homes “warmer, safer and dryer” for low-income families.

The teens were part of the Appalachian Service Project (ASP), a Christian volunteer service project focused on repairing dilapidated housing in Central Appalachia.

This summer the 21 teens and nine adults spent a hot and rainy in Tazewell  County, Virginia in the southwestern corner of the state. The median household income in the county is $27,304, compared with Bridgewater’s median household income of $108,080. Census figures state that 15.3 percent of Tazewell County residents are below the poverty line; in Bridgewater, only 2.9 percent of the residents fall into that category.

Once the teens were settled, they joined a much larger group of volunteers organized into teams that tackled projects such as fixing roofs, putting additions on homes, remodeling bathrooms and replacing floors.

Branchburg resident Bob Manci, a member of St. Martin’s, has been the inspiration behind the teen’s trip and has been group leader for 13 years. But many other parents, adults and friends have also contributed their time and effort and effort over the years; many of them have been ASP volunteers several times.

To participate in the program, the teens not only had to give up a week of their summer vacation, but also had to contribute $500 each for the national ASP program and pay for their transportation to and from Virginia.

When they returned to Bridgewater, the teens shared their experiences with the congregation of St. Martin’s. All were enthusiastic about the program and agreed that the opportunity to connect with less privileged families were powerful and life-changing. They said they also like the chances to worship together and just have fun.

To support the teens’ annual mission, checks can be made out to St. Martin’s ASP and sent to the church at 1350 Washington Valley Road, Bridgewater, N.J., 08807.