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Application Process:
As requests for a work week are received from interested parties the work week is scheduled, confirmed, and application is completed online. We ask that all groups scheduled for work camp contact the main office at least four weeks before arrival to confirm numbers.

How Much Will It Cost?

Total Fee: $250.00 times the number of participants scheduled Deposit: We require a $125.00 nonrefundable deposit per scheduled participant as soon as possible, but at least one month, prior to the arrival date. The total amount of deposit required is based upon the number of scheduled volunteers. We realize this is a strict requirement, but please understand that we must project income and expenses accurately in order to maintain a solid funding base.

Final Payment:
The balance of the fee is payable when you arrive. If more than the scheduled participants arrive, the payment for each of these individuals will be an additional $250.00 upon arrival. Please have one of your leaders come into the main office on Monday and make the final payment.

The fees charged for the work camp supports the entire housing program and contributes to other work of the organization. Please make your checks payable to the DDC HELP Program and mail them along with the application to the Dungannon Development Commission, Inc. Attention HELP Program, 344 Phoenix Street, Suite 101, Dungannon, Virginia 24245.

Your Housing:
Project HELP Volunteers will be housed in the Dungannon Development Commission, Inc.'s Main Office Building known as the Phoenix Center, built in 1988, and named after the legendary bird that rose form its own ashes. The Phoenix Center is a 50' x 130' air conditioned building located on the land owned by DDC. There are a total of 5 bathrooms, with one of them being handicap accessible. There are two sleeping quarters, a dining/meeting/play area, a kitchen and a computer lab with internet access. The DDC can accommodate approximately 80 volunteers. The DDC reserves the right to book more than one group at a time.

Bathing: The DDC has a total of fourteen showers. Please take only one shower per evening and this must be a quick one as not to run out of hot water and shower times should be staggered. Please don't take a half hour in the shower.

Meals: The DDC provides evening meals Monday through Friday during the volunteers' stay. Volunteers are to prepare their own continental breakfast and pack their own lunches each of these days. DDC provides food supply for these meals. The Monday through Friday evening meals will be prepared and served at 4:30 p.m. If volunteers are late arriving from the job sites, food could be cold. If groups choose to arrive at our facility on Saturday or Sunday prior to the five-day work week, there will be cereal and other breakfast foods stored in our Kitchen along with sandwich meats, etc. that can be prepared for lunch. Groups will be on their own for Saturday and Sunday dinner. A list of local or semi-local restaurants that groups can visit on these evenings is available at the center upon your arrival.

Upon Arrival: A DDC representative will most likely be available to greet you and provide logistical information relative to your stay. They will answer any questions and provide information to the group for recreation and worship options. Some recreation options have a small cost. The participants will be responsible for those costs. If your arrival time is late at night or another group is at the Phoenix already, the DDC representative may not be available.

How Can People Contact You? Volunteers staying at the Phoenix Volunteer Center can be reached during the evening after 5:00 p.m. by calling (276) 467-2665. (During day hours when volunteers are at work sties, in the event of emergency families may call the DDC's Main Offices at (276) 467-2665 or (276) 467-2306 and the administrative staff will make every effort to contact the volunteer(s) or their group leader.)

Placing Calls from the Center: Long distance calls are not allowed on the DDC's telephone unless the calls are made with a calling card or collect call. A telephone is available for volunteers use after 4:30 p.m., but please be considerate of other volunteers needing to use the telephone. If long distance calls are made and billed to the Phoenix Center the group will be billed for these calls plus a $10.00 processing fee.

Is there Internet Access? Yes, The DDC's Computer Lab is WiFi equipped and has twelve computers which have Internet access. They are located at the Phoenix Center and are available for our volunteers to use during their stay at the center. The computer lab is open during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. unless there is a class scheduled.

Is there Access to a Fax? Yes, DDC has a fax machine that can be used during office hours (9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.) The number of the fax line is (276) 467-2665. The fee for this service is $2.00 for the first page and a $1.00 for each additional page.

Center Duties: As part of your stay, the DDC asks that volunteer group-leader(s) coordinate amongst themselves and with the group(s) to perform the following duties
DAILY:

Kitchen: Clean all kitchen surfaces with disinfectant, wash and dry dishes(put away accordingly after each meal) and sweep and mop kitchen.

Common Area: Wipe off tables after each meal, sweep and mop floor and in hallway after supper each night. Pick up after yourselves.

Bathrooms/Showers: Clean all commodes, shower stalls and sinks, sweep and mop floors.

Sleeping Areas: Sweep and mop floors. Keep areas as organized as possible to insure safety. Floors should be kept as free of items as possible.

The Services Work:
Rehabs: The main goal is to rehab substandard housing in Scott County. Volunteers will be doing dry walling, room additions, replacing and/or repairing roofs (both shingles and tin), minor plumbing, repairing and/or replacing windows, flooring, painting, etc.

It is Important to Realize that DDC's Project HELP
is part of an overall strategy and not and Entity in Itself

Special Projects: Occasionally DDC may ask for your help on other projects. These projects might be working in the main office, for another project of the DDC, something special in the community or working on the volunteer center itself. These projects are important to the ongoing success of the community and to the organization's work.

Typical Daily Schedule:
7:00-7:45 a.m. Wake up, Breakfast, prepare lunches and clean up
7:45-9:00 a.m. Morning Devotions (Optional)
9:00-9:15 a.m. Receive site assignments and leave for job sites
9:15-Noon Hammer, saw, put up, tear down, teach, learn
Noon-12:30 Lunch
12:30-3:30 p.m. Hammer, saw, put up, tear down, teach, learn
3:30-3:35 p.m. Pack up and leave job site (Return to Center by 4:00)
4:00-4:30 p.m. Showers and play (There will need to be a time reserved for viewing a video.)
4 :30-5:30 p.m. Supper
5:30-11:00 p.m. Clean up/Rest/Play/Etc.

Tools: Part of your experience will be learning to use a variety of tools related to carpentry. Therefore, our tool supply depletes quickly. We try to maintain an ample supply, but tools are always limited. We ask each group to help us build our inventory for the week by bringing tools with them such as hammers, measuring tapes, extension cords, framing squares, power tools, etc. Donations of these tools are appreciated but certainly not mandatory. *SEE DDC's WISH LIST*

Patience will be needed: Life is slower in Appalachia. People may not always be on time, and materials may not be available as quickly as expected. If you temporarily run out of things to do, RELAX, and just enjoy the time. Get to know the people you are helping, find out more about the community and culture. The more you know, the more you grow. This can be one of the best parts of your stay in the Appalachian area.

Come determined to have fun, both within your group and with local families. Mountain people enjoy laughing, singing, joking and storytelling. Take advantage of this.

Remember Mark 10:45 and Luke 22:27 "Conduct yourselves as guest, and treat everyone you meet with dignity and respect". Take time to get to know people and ask permission before taking pictures. RECORD THINGS THAT WILL PRESERVE THE DIGNITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE INVITED YOU INTO THEIR HOMES.

Offer to send copies of your photos and write to people ONLY IF YOU SERIOUSLY INTEND TO. People in our community often feel rejected if even casual promises are made and not kept.

Site Supervisors/
Crew Leaders: The DDC asks that each group bring with them adult leaders with some basic knowledge of carpentry or other building skills to take the crew-leader role. You will need a least 1 crew-leader for each 7-10 youth volunteers. The crew-leaders will receive a "work order" stating the exact duties that are to be performed on each job site. The job sites will be determined pending your returning the "Skills Check Sheet" so we can match volunteers to sites. A DDC representative will deliver materials and supplies to the work sites and be available to answer questions regarding the sites and assist as needed.

Cook: Larger groups of 50 participants or more will need to bring with them one person to work in the kitchen with our cook to prepare the evening meals. DDC's cook will have the responsibility of doing all the grocery shopping before your arrival, will assist in preparing your evening meals and assist in cleaning the kitchen. The entire group will still be doing their regular chores of dishes and clean up after their meals.

Family/Community Night:
We will designate a family night when families whose homes you will repair and community members are invited to supper and to socialize with the volunteers. You will need to strongly encourage the families to attend. Be sure to let the food preparation department know ahead of time how many extra people will be attending, so ample food can be prepared.

Health Insurance:
While participating in the DDC's Project HELP program, there is always a chance that volunteers will need medical care. Accidents can and do happen. Since DDC HELP does not have insurance for HELP volunteers, we ask the sponsor to make sure that all perspective volunteers have medical insurance prior to coming to Dungannon. The sponsor should also get signed statement from the parents of the participants allowing the sponsor to obtain emergency medical treatment if the need arises. Having these statements notarized may be helpful. The Clinic (Clinch River Health Services) requires proof of insurance (copy of card; front and back) before treatment. They also request payment when services are rendered. The Clinic is located about one mile from the town of Dungannon. Hospitals are located in Kingsport, Tennessee and Norton, Virginia and are about a 45 minute drive from Dungannon.

FINALLY: We will do our best to make sure that all of your time is not spent working, or being involved in heavy discussions. We will try to incorporate time for recreational activities such as swimming, picnicking, hiking, fishing, and other forms of entertainment ideas for use during free time. In response to past inquires of individuals wanting to go canoeing and on cave tours please click here for our recreational link.