250 Students, Alumni, Faculty and Staff to Participate in "Holy Cross Cares Day"

WORCESTER, Mass. – Nearly 250 Holy Cross students, alumni, faculty and staff will take part in the seventh annual 'Holy Cross Cares Day' on Saturday, April 3. Showing their appreciation for the Worcester community, participants will spend the day performing service-oriented activities, such as cleaning, painting, cooking and doing yard work at several Worcester community sites.

The day will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the Fieldhouse, with a prayer and brief remarks by Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J., Holy Cross president, and a keynote address. The keynote speaker for this year's event is Joanne McClatchy '79, executive director of the Nativity School of Worcester. At 11:00 a.m., buses will transport participants to numerous sites around the city. Participants will work all day and return to Holy Cross shortly after 2 p.m. for a community picnic.

Mary Beth Ryan '05, a co-chair for the event says the day is 'about building unity among different groups on campus and the Worcester community. It's a day of reflection, service and fun ' but most importantly, it's a building block for other service projects and volunteer work in the future, both at Holy Cross and beyond.'

Among the 19 sites slated to be part of 'Holy Cross Cares Day' are: Cookson Park, St. Stephen's School, the Boys and Girls Club of Worcester, and the Central Mass. Shelter for Homeless Veterans, where students will be preparing and serving lunch.