FARMINGTON – A group of University of Maine at Farmington students will be traveling south for February break next week, but their agenda will call for paint brushes rather than parties.
Twenty students affiliated with the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, a UMF student club, will be traveling to New Orleans to assist with reconstruction efforts. In its third year, the ServeUP New Orleans program provides volunteers like the UMF students to recognized programs such as Habitat for Humanity.
UMF senior Jacob Marcoux, from Burnham, is helping organize the trip south. He noted that the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, which has a presence in colleges across the United States and Canada, has pledged to help with the Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts until the city is deemed fully recovered from the devastating 2005 storm.
In past years, Marcoux said, students worked to repair or rebuild homes and community buildings. Work has included demolition, painting, insulating and installing sheet rock, as well as tutoring students.
“It gives students a service opportunity, outside of their comfort zone,” Marcoux said of the trip. “Then they can come home and apply those lessons here.”
The trip costs students $575 apiece, and the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship has worked to raise $6,000 of the total $11,000 necessary to send the group south. Fundraising activities have included bake sales and Kid’s Night Out, as well as bottle drives and t-shirts. Marcoux said the group was hosting a Mardi Gras-themed party Friday evening for UMF students and that some of the resident halls have provided funds.
Students will leave on Feb. 15 and return on Feb. 24.
Anyone seeking to donate funds for the trip may contact Marcoux at 487-1197, prior to Feb. 15.
Great Idea
are there no volunteer service opportunities closer to home? i ask not to belittle what these folks are doing, but because i’m interested in a february break project and certainly can’t afford to travel to new orleans.
I agree with “nothing better to do” Kindness starts at home.. Put your services out there to local seniors and bet u will be surprised how many need some help.. And willing to pay u a reasonable fee too.
Somebody should have shown those kids the proper way to stand a ladder. The angles are so shallow they could slip.
Good for them, charitable work for the benefit of others is wonderful! I have to wonder, though – why not go to New Jersey and help with the Hurricane Sandy recovery? People there are hurting much more than those in New Orleans.
I am curious- there could be the best news ever in the history of the world posted here and there would still be people complaining. Why is that?
Thank you InterVarsity for caring, planning and doing! You men and women Rock!
For others who would like to donate time or resources, but do not know where or how, please check with the local Lyons Club, Rotary, any local Church, or School, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, WMCA, Boy Scouts, Grange.
The leaders of these and other organizations are always willing to try to match up volunteers with tasks.
Sharing of time and talents is usually fun, and rewarding for all. Building up is great!
i agree with curious it seems like everytime i read a nice article someone has to pick it apart and become negative.