Appalachia Service Project -
Ascension and St. Edmund Parish
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Ascension has had a long history of youth mission trips ranging from Appalachia Service Project (ASP), Mississippi (Gulf Coast Trip), to Young Neighbors in Action (YNIA) in Tijuana.
The Appalachia Service Project (ASP) has been a beloved aspect of Ascension youth ministry for over 20 years. Decades ago, this trip began with a small group of 5 vans totaling 35 people and has doubled in size. Now, the Ascension and St. Edmund group usually goes to ASP the last full week of July, which is known as “week 7” to ASP-ers.
Our goal each year is to help make homes warmer, safer and drier. Our crews build ramps and porches so people have an easier time getting in and out of their homes. We install dry-wall and paint. We repair electric service to rooms that had been without power for years. We install roofs and siding to keep people dry in their homes and so much more. All of this while growing our faith and our relationships among fellow parishioners.
If you have any questions please contact Paul Kraft at [email protected].
To learn more about the national ASP organization please visit their website or email us at [email protected].
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2025 ASP Trip Dates and Registration
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- TRIP DATES - July 19 to July 26, 2025 Registration for the 2025 ASP trip is closed
- To express interest in the 2026 trip, please send an email to [email protected]
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ASP's Mission and Vision
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VISION – Appalachia Service Project is a Christian ministry, open to all people, that inspires hope and service through volunteer home repair and replacement in Central Appalachia.
MISSION – Appalachia Service Project envisions the eradication of substandard housing in Central Appalachia and the transformation of everyone who comes in contact with this ministry.
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Formation for ASP 2025
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ASP is a big commitment - There are many other things going on in each of our lives. However, ASP is a commitment that you are choosing to join. As such, once you complete the registration, you are committing to be present, involved and responsive in the work of trip preparation.
Our trip and week in Appalachia are very different from our regular lives. Therefore, we hope that each of our formation experiences help to guide and prepare you for this new encounter. Throughout these meetings, we get to know the members of our work crew, grow in our understanding of the spirit of service, and learn about the people of Appalachia and their needs and how we will meet them.
There will be three formation meetings, a Skills Day, and a Commissioning Mass.
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Financial Commitment for Teens
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The total financial commitment for the 2025 ASP trip is around $1,000 per teen. This fee covers room and board for the week (7 nights lodging and 17 meals), cost of van rental, materials to complete home repair, etc. All meals are included except for the lunch and dinner on Saturday of departure, lunch on Sunday following departure and breakfast on Saturday of return trip. We estimate each teen spends about $100 on those meals as well as ice cream during the week of ASP.
There are many ways we all work to fundraise for the trip. We will provide fundraising opportunities as well as tools on this website and during meetings. Historically the fundraising covers between $200 and $300 for the teens that participate in the fundraising.
Teen Fee Schedule
Initial registration – $200 (due with registration) March 9, 2025 – $200
July 1, 2025 – Balance due
All fees are non-refundable after each due date.
No teen willing and committed to participating will be denied the opportunity due to the financial commitment. If the cost or payment schedule is a barrier to participating, please contact [email protected] as soon as possible. Any request for assistance is kept private.
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