MCC Appalachia Build

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Elkhorn City, KY
MCC Appalachia Build

Appalachia Build is a home repair program that uses the efforts of volunteers to address sub-standard housing. Physical Address: 3040 Elkhorn City, KY 41522

06/23/2026

Building More Than Homes — Week of Unity in Service (June 15–20) ❤️🔨

We were honored to welcome Sugar Creek Mennonite Youth Group from Wayland, Iowa, and Cooks Creek Presbyterian Church from Harrisonburg, Virginia during the week of June 15–20.

One of the core goals of Appalachia Build is to unite people together in the name of Jesus Christ. This week, we saw that lived out in a powerful way as volunteers from different walks of life served side by side. Each person contributed their own gifts, energy, and wisdom, and together they reflected the unity of Christ’s body in action.

Through their work, these volunteers provided critical home repairs for four families in Pike County, KY, helping create homes that are safer, warmer, and drier. Even more than the repairs, they built relationships, encouraged one another, and shared the love of Christ through every task completed.

Thank you, Sugar Creek Mennonite Youth Group and Cooks Creek Presbyterian Church, for your faithful service and for being a living testimony of Christ-centered unity. We are grateful for your partnership in this work. May God continue to bless and guide you as you serve.

06/16/2026

MCC Appalachia Build extends a heartfelt thanks to the volunteers from Metzler Mennonite Church of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Siloam Fellowship of Goshen, Indiana, for serving in Pike County, Kentucky, during the week of June 8–13.

Together, these volunteers addressed critical housing needs for four local homeowners, helping make homes safer, warmer, and drier for the families who live in them.

Through their compassion, generosity, and servant hearts, these volunteers demonstrated the love of Christ in tangible ways and reminded us that no one is meant to carry life’s burdens alone.

Thank you, Metzler Mennonite and Siloam Fellowship, for walking alongside Appalachian families and helping build stronger homes, stronger communities, and lasting connections.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2

06/15/2026

During the week of June 8–13, we were grateful to host two groups in Kimball, WV, serving with Appalachia Build—Springdale Mennonite Church from Waynesboro, Virginia, and DOE Charge, a group of various churches based out of Dushore, Pennsylvania.

Both groups continued the efforts begun by the previous week’s volunteers, helping a flood survivor begin restoring a home devastated by the February 2025 flood. This homeowner lost everything, and the groups poured their time and energy into the slow, faithful rebuilding—framing the home and hanging insulation.

In addition, volunteers served at the historic Henrietta Dismukes Nurses Home, helping to advance the transformation of this important space into a future learning center for the community—honoring its history while preparing it for new life and purpose.

Teams also worked at the Hep Center, installing shower rooms at this future volunteer housing site that will one day host groups coming to McDowell County to serve in home repair and other service work.

In the steady, often unseen work of rebuilding, we are reminded that it is the Lord who sustains both the work and those we serve. We are grateful for the volunteers who come willing to give their time, their hands, and their hearts, and we are simply thankful to be a small part of what God is doing in restoration and hope.

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” — 1 Peter 4:10

06/07/2026

A Special Thank You to Saint Joseph Church – Dover, Ohio

For many years, the faithful volunteers from Saint Joseph Church have been serving alongside Appalachia Build, and each time they arrive, it feels less like welcoming a volunteer group and more like welcoming family home.

This week, their hearts for service were evident in every project they touched. Living out Christ's call to serve others, they willingly stepped into a variety of ministry opportunities throughout the community. Their work included roughing in the electrical system at the historic Dismukes Nurse's Home, helping a community partner install showers at a future volunteer housing site that will support even more home repair ministry, assisting Houston United Methodist Church with restoring windows, and helping a homeowner continue recovering from the devastating February 2025 flooding.

Their willingness to serve wherever needed reflects the heart of Jesus, who taught, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Mark 10:43).

Thank you, Saint Joseph Church, for your faithfulness, your compassion, and your commitment to loving your neighbors through action. You are making a lasting difference by strengthening people and community, one home at a time.

06/06/2026

This week in Pike County, Kentucky, we witnessed the power of service, compassion, and community in action.

A team from LaSalle High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, spent the week helping a local family by building an additional bedroom onto their home, creating a private space for a young family member who had previously been without a room of their own.

At another work site, volunteers from GEAR, representing communities across Pennsylvania, tackled a home facing severe structural challenges. The floors and roof were failing, and the home lacked functioning bathroom facilities and plumbing. Through long days of hard work, the team stabilized the structure, reinforced the floors, and installed a toilet and plumbing—bringing safety, stability, and basic necessities back to the home.

These projects are reminders that home repair is about far more than lumber, nails, and tools. It is about restoring hope, preserving dignity, and showing our neighbors that they are not forgotten.
Thank you to the students, leaders, and volunteers from LaSalle High School and GEAR for sharing your time, talents, and hearts with the people of Appalachia. Your work will impact these families for years to come.

05/26/2026

Last week, students and staff from Kingsway Christian School traveled from Orrville, Ohio to serve with Appalachia Build in Kimball, WV. Throughout the week, the group partnered with Appalachia Build on several projects. One project involved serving homeowner JJ and his 7-year-old son, whose home was impacted by the February 2025 floods. Since the flooding, JJ and his son have worked tirelessly on their own to try to make their home livable again. Their story is one example of the many families across the region who are still working to recover months after disaster struck. Students assisted by removing damaged flooring, shoveling out dirt from beneath the home, insulating floors, and preparing for new concrete support pillars.

05/25/2026

This past week marked week two of Bluffton University’s Cross Cultural experience in Appalachia — a week focused on both service and learning across the mountains of Eastern Kentucky and Southwest Virginia.

Over the weekend, the group participated in an elk tour at Breaks Interstate Park where they spotted elk and black bear in the mountains. They also enjoyed time at the Apple Blossom Festival and attended worship on Sunday at Elkhorn Community Church.

On Monday, the group traveled to Whitesburg, KY for a tour of the Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation (MCHC) facility before heading to Wise, Virginia, to visit MountainRose Vineyards. These visits provided opportunities to learn more about healthcare, economic development, and life in the Appalachian region.

Tuesday marked the first workday in Pike County, KY. One group began building a bedroom addition for a 12-year-old boy who is currently sleeping on the couch in his grandparents’ trailer. By Wednesday, the team had constructed two walls and nearly half the roof rafters before covering the structure with a tarp to protect it from the weather. It was a strong start, and hopefully the next volunteer group can continue the momentum.

The second group worked at another homeowner’s house, preparing the crawlspace for new bracing and joists to address severely sagging floors, while also repairing the bottom portion of an unsafe ramp. By the end of the week, the ramp was completed, new posts were installed beneath the house, and while the floor is not fully repaired yet, it is much more secure than before.

On the final full day in Kentucky, the group traveled to Pikeville where they visited the Big Sandy Heritage Center, toured downtown, heard from Dr. Brandon Crum about the prevalence of black lung disease among coal miners, and rode horses at Bob Amos Park.

One of the most powerful moments of the week came Tuesday evening as the group listened to Maudie Justice, a survivor of the 1972 Buffalo Creek Flood in Logan County, West Virginia. The disaster claimed 125 lives, injured more than 1,000 people, and left over 4,000 homeless. Hearing her story firsthand was both heartbreaking and deeply important.

Through service projects, shared meals, conversations, worship, and storytelling, students gained not only hands-on experience, but also a deeper understanding of the people and culture of the mountains.

05/18/2026

As we begin another home repair season with the MCC Appalachia Build program, we humbly ask for your prayers.

Please pray for safety over every volunteer, staff member, homeowner, and community partner involved in this work. Pray for protection while traveling, wisdom in every project, strength for the work ahead, and unity among the teams serving throughout the season.

We also ask for prayers for a smooth and productive season — that each home repair project would come together according to God’s timing and provision. May every nail driven, board replaced, and hand extended be a reflection of Christ’s love and compassion.

Most importantly, pray that God would bless this season abundantly, opening doors to serve families well, build meaningful relationships, and bring hope and encouragement to every home we enter.

Thank you for standing with MCC Appalachia Build in prayer as we continue this mission of service in our Appalachian communities.

05/16/2026

Week 1 of Bluffton University’s Cross Cultural Service and Learning experience in Appalachia has been filled with meaningful learning, hands-on service, and opportunities to connect with the people and places that make this region so special.

Throughout the week, students learned more about the strengths, challenges, history, and culture of Appalachia by hearing from several community advocates, leaders, and artisans including Reverend Brad Davis, Sarah Diaz, Robert Diaz, Terry Ratliff, Markella Gianato and Holly Maben. Their stories and experiences helped students gain a deeper understanding of the region and the communities they are serving alongside.

The group also explored several important sites across southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia, including Pinnacle Rock State Park, and the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, as well as the historic town of Bramwell, VA. These visits provided valuable insight into Appalachian history, coal mining heritage, and the beauty of the mountain communities.

Service work has been a major part of the week as students partnered with local organizations and community members. At Jason Tartt’s farm, students helped with planting, weeding, beekeeping, and caring for animals while learning more about sustainable agriculture and local food systems. The group also participated in environmental stewardship projects at Breaks Interstate Park, helping care for and preserve one of the region’s most beautiful natural areas.
Students also spent time doing rehabilitation and restoration work at the historic Dismukes Nurses Home, helping preserve an important piece of local history and investing in a project that will continue to serve the community.

In addition to their service projects, the students participated in the Apple Blossoms Parade, helping promote the Appalachia Build program and sharing the mission of service, community, and relationship-building throughout the region.

Through service, learning, and relationship-building, students are gaining a deeper appreciation for Appalachia and the importance of working alongside communities with humility, compassion, and care.

Address

PO BOX 406
Elkhorn City, KY
41522

Telephone

+16066344418

Website

http://mcc.org/appalachia-build, http://mcc.org/appalachia-build

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