On Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016 the Ayres Chapel United Methodist Church in Whitehall held its annual all you can eat breakfast in order to raise funds for the Appalachia Service Project.

The Appalachia Service Project is an organization that sends volunteers across the Appalachian Mountain region in order to repair and build houses for those in need. The organization was founded 1969 by Rev. Glenn “Tex” Evans who witnessed the need for repair assistance and higher quality homes in the Appalachia region. Evans sent 50 volunteers to Barbourville, Kentucky and by the end of the summer, four families had warm homes for the winter.

Since 1969, 376,339 volunteers from across the United States have stepped up to repair 17,272 homes. Last year alone, ASP had 17,030 volunteers who provided repairs for 642 families. The ASP currently has 17,000 volunteers working to provide homes that are “warmer, safer, and drier” ^TM for the families of Appalachia.

The ASP also stresses the importance of connections with your community and accepting people for who they are. These concepts are so important to the organization that it makes up 2 of their guiding principles. These principles as shown on the official ASP website are that “We believe that where ASP is involved in local communities we will encourage, affirm, and support social and economic justice” and that “We accept people right where they are and just the way they are.”

The breakfast was held from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and the menu consisted of pancakes, French toast, sausage, ham, scrambled eggs, gravy, biscuits, home fries, and drinks. If you would like to learn more or donate to the ASP you can visit their website at www.asphome.org.