The Tri-Lite

Issue date: 2/23/10 Section: News

Student help raise a roof in Spokane, Washington with Habitat for Humanity

When some people think of Spring Break, they think of parties, relaxing, and catching up on their needs. However, for some 38 students and faculty of Holy Family, they took the opportunity to use their time and volunteer in Ecuador and Washington.

True to the Teneor Votis motto of Holy Family ("I am bound my responsibilities.") students helped rebuild houses in Spokane, Washington for Habitat for Humanity and they lived with developing poor through Rostro de Cristo which is ran from Boston College.

This was the 4th Habitat for Humanity trip which has also helped in New Orleans, Miami, and Corpus Christi, Texas. Twenty-two students were accompanied by professors Megan Meyer and Donna Rafter as well as Activities Directors Matt Thomas and Mike McNulty-Bobholz.

"We went from there being a concrete slab to putting up the trusses on the roof!" said Liz Lipinski, '11.

The group stayed from February 27th to March 7th, 2010. The names of the students who took part in this Alternative Spring Break are: Michelle Augustine, Katie Blumenstock, Yi Cao, Anthony Crouchelli, Jonathan Dick, Dan Egenlauf, Amanda Gait, Miranda Gibson, Melissa Greco, Lilliann Kaminski, Heather Kennedy, Stephanie Koszarek, Marek Kowalski, Liz Lipinski, Annie McNulty, Ryan O'Driscoll, Colleen Pearsall, Samantha Proud, Jonathan Tansey, Michael Ulrich, and Krista Zerkow.

On another continent south of the Equator, ten students from all different majors joined Dr. Jenai Murtha and Dr. Art Grugan on a social-psychology based, life-changing experience through 'Rostro de Cristo.' Literally meaning 'The Face of Christ', the program allows for students to meet and live with people in three of the poorest neighborhoods many will ever see.

"Most are developing cities. Some don't have a paved main street; others have only cane or bamboo houses, and some have a combination of cane and cinderblock houses." Dr. Murtha said in an interview. "But its amazing to see the developments already made in the four years I've been doing this."

She described their education system, which is different from ours in that the high school has a morning session and an evening session which often runs from 6pm-11pm, which was what kept one family balanced. Dr. Murtha described a single mother living in a cane house with 4 children, one of whom was nearly 18. The mother worked during the day, so the young man watched his brothers and sisters then took a 40 minute bus ride to high school for 5 hours and then another 40 minute ride home.

Continued...

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