Holy Cross Students Participate in Spring Break Service Programs

WORCESTER, Mass. – Approximately 350 Holy Cross students will depart from Worcester on March 3 to spend their spring break participating in the Appalachia Service Program and Habitat for Humanity.

Students involved in the Appalachia Service Program (a program created at Holy Cross more than 20 years ago) will travel to 12 sites in New Jersey, Virginia, Kentucky and Maine, to assist with home repair, visit the elderly, work in soup kitchens, help the disabled and tutor school children. This year's program is being lead by Chris Kearns-Barrett, a 1983 graduate of Holy Cross. (His wife, Marybeth Kearns-Barrett, is an associate director in the chaplains’ office at Holy Cross and a member of the Class of 1984.) Erin Dwyer and Jared Belliveau, both members of the Class of 2001, are the student coordinators.

A chapter of Habitat for Humanity was established at Holy Cross last year. Groups of student volunteers will travel to Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Palm Beach, Miami and Lake County, Fla.; as well as Flint River, Ga.; Calhoun County and Birmingham, Ala.; Starkville, Miss.; and Tarboro, N.C., to build low-income housing. Entirely student-run, Holy Cross Habitat for Humanity volunteers work in Worcester and Northboro year-round. Holy Cross' chapter has been recognized nationally as the college who sends the most student volunteers. Ryan Leonard '02, Katie Boland '01, Emily Hogan '02 and Jessica Baker '03 make up the executive board.