Christian Outreach with Appalachian People (COAP)

Site Description:

COAP is a non-profit, economical housing construction and repair organization that was incorporated in 1983 to provide safe, warm, and dry housing for low and very low income families in Harlan, Leslie, and Bell Counties.  The vision of COAP was created in 1977 with Mennonite volunteer Marlin Yoder’s dream of helping low income families reach their housing needs.  Since then, COAP has experienced tremendous growth. Under the leadership of Frank Stoffle, which began in 1992, COAP has completed many home repairs, room additions, new home construction, as well as water and septic upgrades for hundreds of families in Harlan County . COAP's ultimate goal is to help build a community in Harlan that meets the responsibility of caring for itself.  Prior construction experience is helpful but not necessary.  

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.

Jessica Lewis, Volunteer Coordinator: jessnorthlewis@yahoo.com ; 606-573-9853

Lodging:

Students provide their own bedding (sleeping bag, pillow, and/or blankets and sheets).

Travel:

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.