Buchanan Neighbors United

Site Description:

Buchanan County is nestled in the Appalachian mountains of far southwest Virginia. Its main industry is coal mining, which is steadily declining. A steep unemployment rate is a daily struggle for its residents. Buchanan Neighbors United was born out of the need for community members to have a voice in their community by addressing the needs of its people. The neighbor organization accepts applications from those in the county who are in need of general housing repairs and improvements and then provides the materials and assistance to families on an urgency basis. Daily projects vary, and students will have the opportunity to do a variety of repair tasks at their work sites. BNU coordinators plan the week’s activities well, which in the past have included trips to local churches for gospel music performances, visits to local civic centers /services (i.e. fire department).

Site Resources:

[Not available at this time]

Site Contact:

We discourage students from directly contacting the site; all reservations are made through the Center for Social Concerns. Further emergency contact information will be provided to students upon enrollment in the seminar.

Gertrude Hibbitt: bnuhomes@ntelos.net ; 276-935-7831

Lodging:

Showers are available. Students provide their own bedding (sleeping bag, pillow, and/or blankets and sheets) and are encouraged to bring air mattresses, cots, etc. as they will be sleeping on the floor.

Travel:

Arrival and departure times are variable; students will travel to the site on Sunday, October 16, and will return the following Friday, October 21.

Personal Expenses:

Students must pay for their own meals while they travel from Notre Dame to the site on Sunday and back to Notre Dame from the site on Friday or Saturday. Students are requested to bring enough money to pay for these 2–3 meals, and it is also suggested that students bring extra spending money for personal purchases during their immersion. The availability of ATMs varies with each site, and so in the interest of avoiding fees or running out of money, it is suggested that students have a reasonable amount of cash on hand before the immersion.

Meals:

Students will use Center credit cards to purchase groceries and prepare their own meals.