ST. JOSEPH’S STUDENTS RETURN TO ST. PAUL MARCH 10TH

A group of 28 students from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA will be arriving in St. Paul on March 10th where they will spend their spring break. These students are participants in their school’s Appalachian Experience (APEX) volunteer community service program. This will be the seventh year students from SJU have traveled to St. Paul. They are excited by the prospect of spending a week here and seeing what SJU students who came before them have been talking about. This year, all the students will be newcomers to the Southwest Virginia region.

To make this trip possible, the students do their own fundraising to cover personal expenses. Their goal is to help others while immersing themselves in small-town life. As in previous years, the students’ work projects will be facilitated Glenda Lane. They will be housed at Castlewood High School, where their breakfast will be provided. Staying at the school gives the SJU students an opportunity to interact with high school students in a small-town atmosphere.

Lunches and dinners will be provided by area churches and businesses. Work projects can include almost anything – painting, light carpentry, yard work, cleanup, etc. In the past, students have used their free time to visit local points of interest, including everyone’s favorite, Breaks Interstate Park. They also visit Lake Estonoa and enjoy a presentation by local students at the Vencil Learning Center. The students especially enjoy visiting local businesses and talking with our friendly people.

If you see these students on the streets of St. Paul, please greet them with a SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA WELCOME! For more information, please call Glenda Lane at the St. Paul Town Hall 276-762-5297.