The United Methodist Church of Geneva dedicated its August 10 service to celebrating its long-running involvement with the Appalachia Service Project (ASP).

In the church’s 42nd annual ASP trip, 30 GUMC volunteers — 22 youth and eight adults — traveled to rural Knott County, Kentucky, from July 19–25 to help repair homes. Their work included building walls and fixing floors, ceilings, and siding for local families.

The service featured music, a photo slideshow, and personal reflections from volunteers.

ASP, a nonprofit based in Johnson City, Tenn., sends volunteer teams to make homes warmer, safer, and more accessible. Projects often involve repairing roofs, walls, floors, foundations, and bathrooms, as well as adding or repairing porches and ramps. ASP serves communities in Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

“ASP allowed us to be a light to others as we radiated and witnessed to our recipient families and friends,” team co-leader and liturgist Mike Popplewell said. “We joined in song, played in the rain, stood patiently in line for an outdoor shower, and cleaned floors or washed dishes for 75 other volunteers. We are proud to have represented GUMC for this church’s 42nd summer.”

Volunteers stayed at a local church, where community members prepared dinners each evening from Sunday through Friday. The group traveled in four vans, with members contributing toward transportation, gas, and tolls. Need-based scholarships were available to students who qualified.

Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] with questions or comments.

Not signed up yet? Subscribe here.