“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.”
Alice Walker

Fridays, as always, are our day to focus solely on projects that do not include home repair. Today was also the final day of soccer camp in Mullens. The week was a lot of fun, the kids were great, the volunteers were troopers running around and playing in the extreme heat. Thanks to Wyoming County Soccer for their support of the camp!

After Soccer Camp several volunteers went to play Banana Bingo at Mullens Manor. There were a few glitches as it was the first day, but all in all a great start to that program for the summer.

Besides these two sites, volunteers went on visits to some of the people we have gotten to know over the years. This is one of the reasons we don’t do home repair on Fridays, to allow people the chance to reconnect and strengthen their relationships with old friends.

Many were really looking forward to dinner tonight, as it was time to have Nancy’s Chicken (ans sans Chicken) Casserole, a PV favorite. This year besides the casserole were treated to Penne ala Vodka (sans the Vodka.)  Both dishes were scrumptious.

During reflection tonight we shared a time when we saw someone taking on the burdens of anotherm=, here in West Virginia. Very thought provoking and interesting.

Please check back tomorrow to see pictures from the week.

“Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown again into instant flame by an encounter with another human being.”


Albert Schweitzer

I feel like a broken record, but today was another hot and steamy day. At soccer camp everyone preserved through the heat and we were even rewarded with some cloud cover the last half an hour of camp. The kids were great, very attentive and have noticeably improved in their soccer skills.

The group continuing with the New Richmond site also had to battle the extreme conditions as they were working on the roof.  Almost half of the roof is now complete and we will continue on next week. The yard work also continued and will continue on.

The third group of PVs set out for St. Vincent DePaul once again. While the warehouse can be overwhelming, the group continue to help get it into some sort of order so that people needed items will be able to find them.

Everyone was once again eager for dinner. Tonight we were treated to meatloaf, baked potatoes, 3-bean salad, Irish Soda bread and surprise cake. All delicious, all comforting.

Tonight’s reflection was interesting as we were asked to reflect on a favorite movie quote and relate it to our experiences in West Virginia. Lots of good movies to check out.

“Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown again into instant flame by an encounter with another human being.”


Albert Schweitzer

I feel like a broken record, but today was another hot and steamy day. At soccer camp everyone preserved through the heat and we were even rewarded with some cloud cover the last half an hour of camp. The kids were great, very attentive and have noticeably improved in their soccer skills.

The group continuing with the New Richmond site also had to battle the extreme conditions as they were working on the roof.  Almost half of the roof is now complete and we will continue on next week. The yard work also continued and will continue on.

The third group of PVs set out for St. Vincent DePaul once again. While the warehouse can be overwhelming, the group continue to help get it into some sort of order so that people needed items will be able to find them.

Everyone was once again eager for dinner. Tonight we were treated to meatloaf, baked potatoes, 3-bean salad, Irish Soda bread and surprise cake. All delicious, all comforting.

Tonight’s reflection was interesting as we were asked to reflect on a favorite movie quote and relate it to our experiences in West Virginia. Lots of good movies to check out.

“Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown again into instant flame by an encounter with another human being.”


Albert Schweitzer

I feel like a broken record, but today was another hot and steamy day. At soccer camp everyone preserved through the heat and we were even rewarded with some cloud cover the last half an hour of camp. The kids were great, very attentive and have noticeably improved in their soccer skills.

The group continuing with the New Richmond site also had to battle the extreme conditions as they were working on the roof.  Almost half of the roof is now complete and we will continue on next week. The yard work also continued and will continue on.

The third group of PVs set out for St. Vincent DePaul once again. While the warehouse can be overwhelming, the group continue to help get it into some sort of order so that people needed items will be able to find them.

Everyone was once again eager for dinner. Tonight we were treated to meatloaf, baked potatoes, 3-bean salad, Irish Soda bread and surprise cake. All delicious, all comforting.

Tonight’s reflection was interesting as we were asked to reflect on a favorite movie quote and relate it to our experiences in West Virginia. Lots of good movies to check out.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Margaret Mead

Happy West Virginia Day!!! Today marks the 149th birthday of West Virginia becoming a state.

Today is also the first day of summer and the temperatures concurred, reaching well into the 90’s, making for another hot and humid day. Soccer camp continued into it’s third day, was more fun and more soccer. We had another great group of volunteers who jumped in and played soccer with the kids.

We also continued work at the home repair site in New Richmond. Today the group focused on replacing part of the roof on the back, as well as continuing doing more yard work. I hate to say “yard work” as that sounds nice and peaceful, when in fact this “yard work” is on the the side of a mountain in blistering heat with no shade for respite. Work will continue at this site tomorrow and into the summer.

We also had a group who went to St. Vincent DePaul to help sort through the two truckloads of items dropped off last week. The majority of their time was spent organizing and sorting out cans of paint. This will be very helpful to us later in the summer when we need paint.

Volunteers were very anxiously awaiting a spaghetti dinner when suppertime came around.  spaghetti, salad and garlic bread, what more can one ask for you say?  Well, it was topped of with home made apple spice cake.  Yum yum.

After dinner the group gathered for the evenings reflection. This evening we focused on love and helping your fellow human, even when others will not.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Margaret Mead

Happy West Virginia Day!!! Today marks the 149th birthday of West Virginia becoming a state.

Today is also the first day of summer and the temperatures concurred, reaching well into the 90’s, making for another hot and humid day. Soccer camp continued into it’s third day, was more fun and more soccer. We had another great group of volunteers who jumped in and played soccer with the kids.

We also continued work at the home repair site in New Richmond. Today the group focused on replacing part of the roof on the back, as well as continuing doing more yard work. I hate to say “yard work” as that sounds nice and peaceful, when in fact this “yard work” is on the the side of a mountain in blistering heat with no shade for respite. Work will continue at this site tomorrow and into the summer.

We also had a group who went to St. Vincent DePaul to help sort through the two truckloads of items dropped off last week. The majority of their time was spent organizing and sorting out cans of paint. This will be very helpful to us later in the summer when we need paint.

Volunteers were very anxiously awaiting a spaghetti dinner when suppertime came around.  spaghetti, salad and garlic bread, what more can one ask for you say?  Well, it was topped of with home made apple spice cake.  Yum yum.

After dinner the group gathered for the evenings reflection. This evening we focused on love and helping your fellow human, even when others will not.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Margaret Mead

Happy West Virginia Day!!! Today marks the 149th birthday of West Virginia becoming a state.

Today is also the first day of summer and the temperatures concurred, reaching well into the 90’s, making for another hot and humid day. Soccer camp continued into it’s third day, was more fun and more soccer. We had another great group of volunteers who jumped in and played soccer with the kids.

We also continued work at the home repair site in New Richmond. Today the group focused on replacing part of the roof on the back, as well as continuing doing more yard work. I hate to say “yard work” as that sounds nice and peaceful, when in fact this “yard work” is on the the side of a mountain in blistering heat with no shade for respite. Work will continue at this site tomorrow and into the summer.

We also had a group who went to St. Vincent DePaul to help sort through the two truckloads of items dropped off last week. The majority of their time was spent organizing and sorting out cans of paint. This will be very helpful to us later in the summer when we need paint.

Volunteers were very anxiously awaiting a spaghetti dinner when suppertime came around.  spaghetti, salad and garlic bread, what more can one ask for you say?  Well, it was topped of with home made apple spice cake.  Yum yum.

After dinner the group gathered for the evenings reflection. This evening we focused on love and helping your fellow human, even when others will not.

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride.!”

Hunter S. Thompson

Another warm and sunny day in Wyoming County!. Today the group split in half, with half going to soccer camp, and the other half going to a home repair site in New Richmond.

It was another great day at soccer camp. I don’t know who was more enthusicastic, the campers or the volunteers. We were also very grateful for the use of a tent to provide us and the campers with some much needed shade. Thanks Mullens soccer community for the shade!

The home repair site we had today, was a continuation of a site that we worked on last week with a group of students from Elms College. (I will be posting about the Elms College trip in the near future.)  Today the volunteers continued to remove shrubbery, weeds and vines from the mountainside that the house sits on. Volunteers also helped to pull down (literally with our truck) an old pump house that was out back. By the afternoon there was no shade to be had and we had to call it quits a bit early.

Needless to say, with all the sun and heat today, volunteers were ready for a shower and a nice home-cooked meal. Tonight we were treated to a satisfying shepherds pie, salad and homemade rolls.. The special treat with dinner tonight was homemade chocolate chip cookies. Yummmy!

Tonight’s reflection focused on our spiritual journey and in particular someone we have met in West Virginia who has helped us along on our journey.

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride.!”

Hunter S. Thompson

Another warm and sunny day in Wyoming County!. Today the group split in half, with half going to soccer camp, and the other half going to a home repair site in New Richmond.

It was another great day at soccer camp. I don’t know who was more enthusicastic, the campers or the volunteers. We were also very grateful for the use of a tent to provide us and the campers with some much needed shade. Thanks Mullens soccer community for the shade!

The home repair site we had today, was a continuation of a site that we worked on last week with a group of students from Elms College. (I will be posting about the Elms College trip in the near future.)  Today the volunteers continued to remove shrubbery, weeds and vines from the mountainside that the house sits on. Volunteers also helped to pull down (literally with our truck) an old pump house that was out back. By the afternoon there was no shade to be had and we had to call it quits a bit early.

Needless to say, with all the sun and heat today, volunteers were ready for a shower and a nice home-cooked meal. Tonight we were treated to a satisfying shepherds pie, salad and homemade rolls.. The special treat with dinner tonight was homemade chocolate chip cookies. Yummmy!

Tonight’s reflection focused on our spiritual journey and in particular someone we have met in West Virginia who has helped us along on our journey.

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride.!”

Hunter S. Thompson

Another warm and sunny day in Wyoming County!. Today the group split in half, with half going to soccer camp, and the other half going to a home repair site in New Richmond.

It was another great day at soccer camp. I don’t know who was more enthusicastic, the campers or the volunteers. We were also very grateful for the use of a tent to provide us and the campers with some much needed shade. Thanks Mullens soccer community for the shade!

The home repair site we had today, was a continuation of a site that we worked on last week with a group of students from Elms College. (I will be posting about the Elms College trip in the near future.)  Today the volunteers continued to remove shrubbery, weeds and vines from the mountainside that the house sits on. Volunteers also helped to pull down (literally with our truck) an old pump house that was out back. By the afternoon there was no shade to be had and we had to call it quits a bit early.

Needless to say, with all the sun and heat today, volunteers were ready for a shower and a nice home-cooked meal. Tonight we were treated to a satisfying shepherds pie, salad and homemade rolls.. The special treat with dinner tonight was homemade chocolate chip cookies. Yummmy!

Tonight’s reflection focused on our spiritual journey and in particular someone we have met in West Virginia who has helped us along on our journey.