Twenty three Immaculata student volunteers (as well as several alumni) through Campus Ministry recently gave up the comforts of life in New Jersey to serve the rural poor of Appalachia. In addition to not having cell phone service all week and doing without electricity one night due to the typical failure of the fragile power grid, there were the long waits on line for showers, food and even use of the bathrooms. One chaperone likened it to how this must be a glimpse into the everyday lives of those who have to rely on food pantries and soup kitchens for daily survival.
Many of the projects are simple home repairs to keep the families safe, warm, and dry through the next harsh mountain winter. But once again like last year, there were several crews sent to raise a house from the cinder blocks up. When these volunteers on this one site were done, standing in their wake was a home: roof, walls, intricate vinyl siding, doors, windows and two porches! These particular crews endured a more challenging experience, often working over an hour past the 4:00 PM quitting time. However, in the Spartan tradition, not a single student would have had it any other way. They embraced our motto that:
“Service Is Praying Out Loud!”