June 23-30, 2012

Located in the heart of West Virginia, Flatwoods presents the best of rural community living as well as the challenges. You will be overwhelmed with both the spectacular beauty of the mountain, lake, and river scenery as well as the incredible physical needs of the families who call Flatwoods “home.”

The Appalachian region is considered one of the most impoverished regions of the United States, and Flatwood’s nearly 6,000 households continue to face the challenges which are typical of small rural areas. Only 42% of individuals living in Flatwoods graduated from high school, unemployment is high and more than half of the households fall well below the poverty level.

Hopelessness, lack of resources, and under-education are obstacles that plague many of the people. A significant number of homes lack adequate plumbing and kitchen facilities.

Many of the work projects center around families who struggle to provide basic amenities for their children or the growing elderly population, who usually live on a fixed income and have no money for house repairs. You will also have the opportunity to partner with small churches and reach out to the community by interacting with the residents and showing them love and a reason for hope.

You can make a great impact on the lives of the residents of Flatwoods.