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Students participating in the Appalachia Service Project,
a program created at Holy Cross almost 30 years ago, visited
nine sites in Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia during
the College’s spring break week in March. Some students
lodged in homeless shelters, while others bunked in churches
or fire stations. During the day, they assisted with housecleaning,
yard work, painting, picking up trash along the roads or
helping to prepare meals. The program was led by Chris Barrett ’83
of the Chaplains’ Office and two student co-chairs,
Kathryn Casey ’03 and J.J. Mammi ’03. Mammi, a
resident of Appalachia, says “the trip is more of a
cultural exchange than a service project. In the end, we
all have a greater awareness of the world.”
Students also participated in the Habitat for Humanity Collegiate
Challenge, traveling to 12 sites in Florida, Mississippi,
Georgia, Virginia, South Carolina and Alabama, where they
helped build low-income housing. With a student body of only
2,800, Holy Cross was recognized nationally in 2001 as the
college with the most student participation of any college
in the country. This year’s coordinator, Michael Connelly ’03,
describes Habitat as “a way for students to get their
hands dirty and experience what real community feels like
and how it affects real people.”
For the first time, Holy Cross students participated in
a new spring break program called WorcesterWorks. Created
by Barrett, WorcesterWorks is a four-day urban plunge program
that combines service work and prayer. The program is dedicated
to maintaining the relationships that already exist between
Holy Cross and various social service agencies in Worcester.
This year’s work project was located at Abby’s
House, a residential facility for homeless and battered women
and children in Worcester. Students painted at Abby’s
House during the day and returned to campus for dinner and
evening prayer.
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