New roofs for Appalachian South Folklife Center

For many years, First Church Bedford has been raising money for our mission partners in West Virginia, particularly the Appalachian South Folklife Center, where we stay on our mission trips. The Center hosts work parties from all over the country to come and help those in need. They have helped thousands of clients and impacted the lives of tens of thousands of volunteers who have come to help. The fees that groups pay to the Folklife Center cover basic expenses that keep things going at the center.

This year, we are seeking donations for some much-needed roofing projects that fall outside the Center’s budget.

First is the addition of a porch roof outside the main building to alleviate drainage issues at the dining hall. This will also provide a wonderful semi-enclosed dining and recreational space on warm days, as well as shelter from the rain right next to the building. This project is underway, but about $2500 to $3000 short of completion.

Also needed are new metal roofs for two of the dormitory buildings. A third dorm had its roof replaced a few years ago (and is in great shape), but the other two roofs are aging and will need to be replaced soon.

More information about Appalachian South Folklife Center: We assist families in need through our Service Work program. College, church and civic groups come to the Folklife Center to learn about Appalachia while performing volunteer work for folks in our area facing hard times. This program helps people with their home repair needs and provides other community service to non-profit and grassroots organizations. The program also allows our volunteers to learn about Appalachian heritage and culture. They gain valuable teamwork and leadership skills at the same time.