Holy Cross Students Participate in Spring Break Service Programs

While college students around the country are enjoying their spring break vacationing in exotic locales, approximately 350 Holy Cross students will depart from Worcester on March 3 to spend their spring break participating in Habitat for Humanity and the Appalachia Service Program.

A chapter of Habitat for Humanity was established at Holy Cross last year. That same year, Holy Cross’ chapter was recognized nationally as the college who sent the most student volunteers on the Collegiate Challenge alternate spring break experience. This year, 10% of the entire student body 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. Katie Boland '01, Emily Hogan '02, Ryan Leonard '02 and Jessica Baker ’03 make up the executive board.

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.) Run through the Chaplains' Office, Erin Dwyer and Jared Belliveau, both members of the Class of 2001, are the student coordinators.