March 2009
OUR MISSION: The Crew builds homes for Appalachian families without the financial means to afford adequate housing. Our work is located in economically depressed McCreary County, KY. For the last twenty-two years, the Crew has worked with the Good Shepherd Mission of Whitley City, KY, who selects the families to receive the new homes. The Good Shepherd Mission has many deserving families on a waiting list for homes. In June 2008, the Crew built a home for Grover and Mary Rollins and their two grandchildren, Damon and Courtney. Grover and Mary have custody of their two grandchildren because the children’s mother was killed in a car accident and the father is unable to provide the needed parental care. Both Grover and Mary have breathing problems and are periodically on oxygen. The Rollins Family was living in a rundown and unhealthy home but has since moved to their new home. Damon and Courtney, who are both under 10 years old, are bright and friendly and now have the hope for a better future in their new home. Although the new home is our prime objective, more important benefits are setting an example of helping our fellow Americans and trying to heal a family in need of housing. The Appalachian Construction Crew is an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.
OUR WORK: During the past year, the Crew continued to raise money for buying the required home construction materials and Crew logistics. Fundraisers include working concession stands at the Offutt AFB Air Show and Omaha Royals baseball games, a raffle for gift certificates donated by Outback Steakhouse and a bowl-a-thon. Then for one week last June, our on-site crew of 26 volunteers built the home for the Rollins Family. The program is not a free handout, since each selected family agrees to pay back the Good Shepherd Mission for the material cost of the home in small, monthly, interest-free payments. Thus the family is given the financial means to obtain a good home and experiences America’s dream of home ownership. The Good Shepherd Mission then reuses the revenue from the families’ payments to help other families in need. In June 2009, the Crew will be building a home for our 24th family.
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The Crew builds homes for Appalachian families without the financial means to afford adequate housing. Our work is located in economically depressed McCreary County, KY. Since 1988, the Crew has worked with the Good Shepherd Mission of Whitley City, KY, who selects the families to receive the new homes. The Good Shepherd Mission has many deserving families on a waiting list for homes. Although the new home is our prime objective, more important benefits are setting an example of helping our fellow Americans and trying to heal a family in need of housing. The Appalachian Construction Crew is an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.
