82 Volunteers Swap Beach Vacations for W.Va. Mission Work

Jacob Williams has found something better than any beach resort or mountain getaway. For the fourth year running, he's spending his summer vacation helping struggling families in southern West Virginia.

"It beats every vacation my wife and I have ever done, and I mean it," said Williams, a volunteer with Transformation Church from Michigan. Even on steamy days in Matewan, the joy of helping others outweighs any tropical paradise.

Williams and his Michigan church crew have been making the trip for four years now. They deliver food and make critical home repairs across several counties in West Virginia and Kentucky. This year, they teamed up with Joey Query's North Carolina church, which has been doing this work for 12 years.

Together, the two congregations brought 82 volunteers to the region. They're fixing roofs, painting homes, and bringing groceries to families who need support. For younger volunteers especially, the experience transforms how they see service and community.

The trips create connections that last far beyond a week of work. Volunteers return year after year, building relationships with the families they help and watching communities strengthen over time.

Why This Inspires

Williams said the real reward comes from seeing people's faces light up when help arrives. The beauty isn't just in West Virginia's hills. It's in the community bonds that form when strangers become neighbors, and vacation time becomes something more meaningful than relaxation.

These volunteers prove that the best memories don't always come from leisure. Sometimes they come from hard work, hot days, and the simple act of showing up for people who need you.

The work never truly ends, the volunteers say, which is exactly why they're already planning next year's trip with even more people ready to trade their beach towels for tool belts.