Operation Appalachia
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Our Mission:
The Operation Appalachia Ministry at Notre Dame is a dedicated group of skilled and unskilled adults and youths who spend one week of their own time each summer repairing homes in Preston County, West Virginia. Projects include patching leaky roofs, replacing broken windows, painting, plumbing, flooring, and many other home repairs.
In return for their efforts, the team brings home a great sense of satisfaction in helping to improve the living conditions of the county's poor and elderly. Our volunteers often gain a valuable lesson from those they have helped - gratitude for what they have been given. It is an honor and a pleasure to be God's hands amongst His children.
The summer of 2022 marked our 29th trip to Preston County. In return, the team brings home a great sense of satisfaction in helping to improve the living conditions of the county's poor and elderly, as well as learning some valuable lessons from those we have helped.
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How We Get to Our Destination!
Upcoming Meetings:
As always, please invite friends or family to come and learn more if they may be interested in joining our mission, or in supporting us in another way. We love to welcome new faces!
Looking ahead, our future meeting dates are as follows:
Wed, June 7, at 7 pm in the Upper Room
Wed, July 5, at 7 pm in the Upper Room
Wed, July 26, at 7 pm in the Upper Room
Throughout the year adults and youth involved in the Operation Appalachia come together to plan for events that help raise funds for the trip. One major fundraiser is the sale of Christmas Ornaments and Alternative Christmas Cards during the Advent season. We also rely upon contributions from members of the Parish, corporations, and other private donors.If you would like to make a financial contribution, you may send it to our Parish Office (Attention: Operation Appalachia. Checks should be made payable to Notre Dame of Mt. Carmel - Operation Appalachia), or online HERE (be sure to note Operation Appalachia on the reason for Payment/Donation).
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Applying to participate:
Please note the following steps and guidelines:
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Please download and complete the APPLICATION FORM. Paper forms will also available at information/planning meetings and also in the parish office.
- For planning team purposes, application forms should already be submitted. If you have not yet done so, please contact Dan and Julia Rizos as soon as possible.
- Due to rising facility costs, we must now ask for a $100 fee with each application. If this charge is in any way a hardship, please contact Julia or Dan Rizos at NotreDameOpAp@gmail.com. We do not want to let this fee prohibit anyone from attending the trip.
- To plan your trip, please review the Individual Packing List and Team Packing List for reminders of dress guidelines and what to bring.
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There are specific Diocesan requirements for those who are or will be 18 or older at the time of the trip. Please click HERE for details and be sure to complete these requirements well in advance of our trip.
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IMPORTANT: Please read the Updated Paterson Diocese Code of Conduct and the Wheeling-Charleston West Virginia Sexual Abuse Policy
Policies and Guidelines
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Requirements:
Before applications may be received, we have a number of guidelines and requirements:
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Volunteer Throughout the Year: Fellowship is at the heart of our ministry, and fund raising is the only way we can afford the materials, lodging and transportation for our week in West Virginia. We encourage everyone to attend meetings and help with our fund raising events and efforts.
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Age Requirement: Anyone 16 years or older may participate in the trip to Appalachia . For those under the age of 16, you must be entering at least the 9th grade by the September following the trip and be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
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VIRTUS Requirements: Required for anyone 18 or over at the time of the trip, or anyone who has not had a background check completed within the last three years. The background check must be completed before attending Virtus Training. You may schedule both at the same time, but you must have the background done prior to participating in VIRTUS. Click HERE for details on how to fulfill these requirements. Please note that as Virtus training is only given a few times a year in our area, it is important to register and attend as soon as possible!
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