Amy Gassen
Project Appalachia, a service project sponsored by Campus Ministry, sends groups of Cabrini students to various communities in West Virginia. This has been a tradition for more than 20 years on campus. Once there, the students “work with people on projects to improve the quality of life of the individuals that live there,” Dr. Mary Laver, coordinator of community outreach, said.
The service project takes place in WV because they have “many pockets which are among the poorest of the nation,” Laver said. One of those places, Camp Kisnet, has been a “Cabrini alumni tradition for years. They go to help staff a little camp for kids who can’t otherwise afford camp,” Laver said.
However, this year, because of bad flooding this past July, students are going to Fayetteville near Camp Kisnet “to help with some rehabilitation of housing of families of children of Camp Kisnet,” Laver said.
Groups of students will be sent to the East Bank area in WV as well.
Students who have helped with Project Appalachia in the past have gone to places like Union, WV. Last year in Union, they “helped to rebuild an old school that was closed in the ’60s,” John Verdi, junior, said.
“It was converted into a recreational center for children. We painted the cafeteria, the hallways and the gymnasium.”
This year’s Project Appalachia will take place during the week of spring break, March 2-8. There will be an informational meeting during the week of Dec. 3. Students will be asked to do serious fundraising because of all the expenses that need to be fulfilled.
