Students emb~rk to Appalachia for 22nd straight year

by Amy Gassen

"It's very community-oriented," Krissports editor ten Scarborough, senior, said. Scarborough has been going to Union for the past Spring break is here. The semester three years. "I just feel like I can breathe build-up of stress will have the opportu- again when I am down there." nity to be released as both students and Moving piles of wood, creating a ditch, faculty members take a week-long vaca- putting up a roof and painting are among tion from the habitual hustle and bustle the tasks that students have performed of the school day. throughout the years in Union, according

Cancun, Palm Springs and Jamaica are to Scarborough. among the top choice areas on where to

This spring will mark the 22nd year spend spring vacation. that members of the Cabrini community But, during this spring break, 38 Cabri- have traveled to W.Va. with campus minni students will get a different perspec- istry on Project Appalachia. tive to vacation-working hard labor. Em- Repairing porches, putting up siding, barking on a six-to-eight hour van ride, •insulating buildings and restoring old Mary Laver and John DiMucci, campus homes are a few of the jobs that the crew ministers, will travel with students to the that travels to East Bank has performed destinations of Union, W.Va., and of East in the past, according to Colleen Martin, Bank, W.Va., respectively. senior. Martin has traveled on the trip for ---- the past four years.

"You feel like you can do anything after you put on a roof in four days," Martin said.

Union has been hosting students since the service trip was initiated 22 years ago. According to Laver, 13 students will travel to Union and stay in St. Andrews Church.

Due to the fact that the trip demanded more spots than were available, a second site in East Bank was created six years ago.

"In both cases, we work through Catholic groups," Laver said. Those students who volunteer at Union will work through the Catholic Social Services of West Virginia.

"We will be working with 'Right from the Start,' a group that works with fami- lies that have unexpected and difficult pregnancies that need help getting their households ready," Laver said. This is the first year that Union will benefit from this organization.

Marge Booth, a Presbyterian volunteer, is the site supervisor for East Bank.

"When we go down, (Booth) will take us to a few different places to show us what needs to be done," Martin said.

At both sites, the students split up and work at four to five places a day. According to Martin, volunteers could work on a project from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Colin McGinley, junior, has travled to both Union and East Bank during different trips. "You get more out of it than the people down there do," McGinley said.