Students rebuild both hope and houses

by Stephanie Masucci assistant A&E editor

While some students spent their spring break lying on the beach, senior Kelly Graham occupied her days helping those less fortunate in West Virginia.

'T d rather do something that will make me grow as a person," she said. Graham, along with 31 other students and staff, chose this week-long "alternative spring break" titled Project Appalachia to help rebuild the houses and spirits of a local community in West Virginia.

"I go every year because I like community service. I like the hard labor we do," Graham said.

Junior Dave Wiley, along with Graham, attended Project Appalachia for the third time this year.

"Some of the work is physically demanding, but not all of it,'' Wiley said. "Anyone can come."

Wiley was the site director at East

Bank for the second time this year.

"It's so great. There are more positives than negatives," junior Aimee Sirois said.

In East Bank a lot of the students worked with people who had dropped out of high school and are working to take their high school equivalency exam.

A lot of the work the students have done over the years has included fixing roofs, installing insulation and building handicap ramps.

This trip, which is hosted by Good Shepherd, a Catholic church in East Bank,W.V., and St. John's Catholic Church in Belle, W.V., has been a tradition among Cabrini students for 19 years. The students who visited Union, W. V. visited shut-ins and worked in elementary schools, whereas, the students who went to East Bank did more construction work.

March Booth, a full-time volunteer for 10 years in West Vrrginia, gives out the assignments on ar- rival.

Fund raisers are held during the year, including the carnation sale for Valentine's Day and support from the community.

A letter was sent out to the faculty and staff explaining the trip and asking for donations.

"We got a lot of support from faculty and staff," campus minister Dr. Mary Laver said.

Each student who decides to attend the trip participates in fundraising to pay the cost of their trip and the tools that will be used for their service. Most students raise enough to participate for free.

Campus minister John DiMucci said that he feels the most extraordinary experience of the trip is the relationships they form.

Dreama Shibling was one of the women who this team helped out last year. Shibling is going for her GED and she is mother of five children.

"The local community was trying to help her out and she would- n't let them," Wiley said. "Then last year she finally Jet us in."

Last year the team helped install her insulation, and this year they fixed up her roof.

"Her house is warmer and her heating bill was less money this year," Graham said. The students said it is interesting seeing how their work is holding up and how much they have helped these people. Training is not provided to the students before they leave for West Virginia, so each student tests his or her strength and teamwork skills while learning the task at hand.

"We worked on this house that was over 100 years old," Sirois said. "We did siding and some students put up a door."

One of the places the group in Union visited was the Alderson Hospitality House.

"This was a ministry to families of women in a local prison," Laver said. "Families who are visiting prisoners can stay at no cost. They can connect with each other and there's a van and a chapel."

The students helped move the wood and offer assistance to this faith based organization which keeps this place running all year long.

The University of Notre Dame and Boston College are among two of the institutions that will be coming down later this month.

Every student that attended this week long community service trip came back with a sense of pride and smile as they look back on their trip.

"It's always nice to know you're helping someone out," Wtley said. Students who are interested in participating in a trip like this will have the chance to attend over the summer.

The Alumni Association is hosting a second Project Appalachia Trip, and the Border Experience Trip to Mexico will also be held this summer. To find out more, contact campus ministry.