Service Trip Planned to the Ninth Ward in New Orleans

During the week of Jan. 11-18, a group of student volunteers from Manhattan College will travel to New Orleans to work with Project Helping Hands, a subsidiary of Catholic Charities devoted to rebuilding the hurricane-ravaged city, particularly the Ninth Ward. This trip is sponsored by the College’s Lasallian Outreach Volunteer Experience (LOVE) program.

Dr. Margaret Groarke, assistant professor of government and director of Manhattan’s peace studies program, will supervise the trip. The workday, which begins at 8:30 a.m., when assignments are given out, and ends at 4:30 p.m.  involves light building activities.

College alums in Louisiana are being contacted to join the students on Friday, Jan. 16 to lend a hand to the project. Following the workday, a dinner event will include an informal presentation by the students about their experience.

On Saturday, Jan. 17, a 10:00 a.m. trip is being planned to the National World War II Museum, located at 945 Magazine St, in New Orleans. Steven Scalia ’51 is an expert on the era and has graciously agreed to guide a group through many of the exhibits. A former member of the Eisenhower administration, Scalia will provide a unique perspective based on personal experience.

All events are being planned by Ellen Kiernan, director of alumni relations, and Mary Ellen Malone, director of planned giving. These activities aim to build a relationship between alumni and current students and begin a conversation about how to better engage Manhattan alumni.