THE LATEST FROM ERIK
On June 7 the Steed (my bike's nickname) and I began a journey to cross the country - Pacific to Atlantic - seeking to both fulfill longstanding goals and, in light of this year's pandemic, to raise awareness and funds for the Appalachia Service Project (ASP).
Seventy four days and 3,351 miles later, with family and friends present, we arrived safely at our Atlantic coast destination (Rehoboth Beach) filled with experiences, new appreciation, love and thanks for many fellow citizens providing support along the way.
The awareness of ASP's mission - eradicating substandard housing in central Appalachia - with much needed home repairs has generated a wonderful outpouring of resources and support, generating over $60,000 to further the ASP Mission.
For all of this, I thank you all. God bless.
-Erik
MEET
Erik Andrews
"For the past 24 summers, on a Sunday morning in early June, I'd be driving toward the hollows of Appalachia with our ASP-Oberlin team for a week of #WarmerSaferDrier home repairs with the Appalachia Service Project (ASP). But this year, I did not.
In this summer of pandemic, we, just like ~14,000 other volunteers from across the country, could not support ASP in our typical servant fashion due to the infection risks.
In the absence of swinging a hammer, I'm raising funds for ASP via a cross-country ride that I completed on August 20: #RideToServe. The ride started on Sunday, June 7th and continued through the ASP home repair season (mid-August), I pedaled. And pedaled. And loved it - aptly following along with ASP's 2020 theme: "Complete, but not Finished". There's still work to do.
If you wish to support ASP (and by extension, my completed ride), jump on the DONATE NOW link. Michele and I and family matched the first $10K.
In this Appalachian summer as hundreds of much-needed home repair needs will go unmet, I/we strive to support ASP's ongoing mission through financial support generated through this ride."
"I pedaled my bike while wearing my construction boots, in honor of all those that help ASP with their time, construction know-how and dedication. These boots are my direct connection to ASP when I was on the road."
