Appalachia Service Project – Life in Perspective

By Cali Howe

This past June, I had the opportunity to travel to West Virginia as part of a Pembroke Youth Service Project in the heart of the Appalachia Mountains. During my week-long stay, I worked alongside a dedicated team to build a wheelchair ramp for a family living below the poverty line. It was hard work but incredibly rewarding. What I witnessed and experienced during that week changed the way I view the world. The challenges many families face in this region, especially those related to mobility, housing, and access to basic needs made me realize how much I had taken for granted in my own life. Being welcomed into the community and seeing how much this ramp meant to the family reminded me of the power of compassion, teamwork, and small acts of service. I came home feeling deeply grateful, not only for the comforts I have but also for the chance to make a real difference. My time in Appalachia reminded me that service isn’t just about helping others. It’s also about learning, growing, and understanding the value of human connection.

First, the van groups. Alot of new friendships were made during our long rides together. We started in Pembroke, MA and drove for two days to a remote region in Appalachia. Each van consisted of seven people, 2 adults and 5 of my peers. The van groups were formed prior to leaving for Appalachia, approximately a week before we left. They made sure to pick the vans very carefully, with an emphasis on meeting and bonding with new people, or kids that you had never met before. Our van became very close, and I will know these people and talk to them for the rest of my life. We still talk every day, and I love everyone who was in my van. My van parents were amazing. Their names were Kevin and Lisa, and they gave me a sense of comfort as if I had my Mom and Dad there too, although I missed my family dearly. I loved experiencing a different life.

Workdays were long…and very hot! We stayed in a classroom with air mattresses and camp cots with a big group of girls. Every morning we woke up at 6:30am to get ready for the day. Every morning at 7:15am we would gather as a huge Pembroke group and do a morning devotion. Someone would say a prayer and bless our day, and it got very emotional for everyone there. We grew so close together, I don’t think I have ever felt so welcomed by a group of people. After that we would eat breakfast in the cafeteria and then would pack our lunches, typically peanut butter and jelly. After everyone packed their lunches, we set off to go to our works sites in our group van. My van crew was lucky enough to have a family that would cook us lunch every day. They ate so differently in Appalachia, but it was sooooo good. We had 15 vans parked in the middle school parking lot for each group. Every group worked on a different property, so our trips were different. Thankfully my van only had to travel 30 minutes to our worksite while others might have had to travel an hour or two. We worked at the worksite from 10am-3pm, and then immediately drove back to the middle school to shower and wash up for dinner. I don’t think I’ve ever smelled that bad in my life. Once I finished showering, I would find a group of people to play cards with whether they were part of my van group or another group. After playing cards for about an hour we all gathered for dinner, someone would bless the meal, and we would eat and talk about our day. After dinner, you would walk around the middle school and just see everyone doing different fun activities, such as playing basketball in the gym, handshakes in the halls, or just people bonding with their van groups. 

It was so hard saying goodbye to Appalachia and returning to my home. I couldn’t help but feel sadness walking into my room and realizing what I had taken for granted – clothes, food, a roof over my head, the beach, skiing vacations, and of course my dog Bogey!!! I will be returning to Appalachian next year to continue my journey of service and volunteerism because it is a great way to give back to the community.