Little Things That Make a Difference

BY BRIANNA STEPHENS

Service is an integral part of Father Vincent Capodanno High School in Vass, North Carolina. Students and staff from the school traveled to Appalachia this spring to tackle home repair projects during their first YouthFest event, an alternative spring break for high school students hosted by Christian Appalachian Project (CAP).

During their week of service with CAP, the group of students and staff worked to build a new front porch and a back porch with an accessibility ramp for a woman in Floyd County. Watching the group make quick work of the project during the week, she was thrilled knowing she would be able to sit on her new front porch and have more freedom and accessibility in and out of her home because of the ramp.

Students at Father Vincent Capodanno High School are typically given the opportunity to do community service for a few hours every Wednesday, whether that be cleaning a highway, serving at a food bank, or helping in special needs classroom. Expanding their service to a full week through YouthFest not only built a strong bond between the students but showed them the tangible impact their service can make.

“It’s good they understand service, but now they actually got to do it for an extended period of time during the week,” said Michaela Loomis, a teacher from the school who joined the students at YouthFest. “It’s really amazing to see this project the kids did had a positive impact on someone’s life. I think it gave them a good feeling, but it will also be a positive impact for the rest of the school year, maybe even the rest of their lives.”

For many of them, YouthFest was their first experience working with wood and tools. CAP’s Home Repair Program staff and volunteers take time during YouthFest to teach groups and volunteers how to safely operate tools in order to complete home repair projects for individuals and families in need.

“I want to do this again,” freshman Lexi Waldo said. “At first I was a little worried about not knowing what to do, but there are a lot of helpful people to help you with the work, and it feels really good knowing you are helping people. I know little things make a difference, and I know our work is going to go a long way.”

The experience helped the students see a new perspective on not only the challenges people in Appalachia can face, but how they can make a difference in the region.

“It meant a lot to me to be able to do that,” said Julia Attar, a freshman at the high school. “When we first came, we saw the front steps of the home were made out of cinderblocks. It means a lot to know I helped her have safe access in and out of her home, and I took away a lot of life skills I can use later on.”

“No matter what age you are, you can still help do big things no matter what,” added Jozeph Capps, another student who worked on the project.

With the help of groups and volunteers like the students and staff from Father Vincent Capodanno High School, CAP is able to make more homes safe, warm, dry, and accessible for more children, their families, and seniors in Appalachia.

A group of students and staff from Father Vincent Capodanno High School in Vass, North Carolina, traveled to Appalachia for their first YouthFest this spring. The group built this new front porch as well as a back porch with an accessibility ramp for a participant.

Students and staff made quick work of their home repair project during YouthFest. Here, the group is pictured building an accessibility ramp. For several members of the group, it was their first time working with wood and tools.