March 26, 2006
Mercy College Student-Athletes Pitch in with Hurricane Relief Effort During Spring Break
DOBBS FERRY, NY - While many college students across the nation will be taking a breather from their rigorous academic workload over spring break by vacationing in a tropical location or just gearing up for the final weekend of March Madness, five of Mercy College's student-athletes and one former student-athlete will be heading to St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, to pitch in with relief efforts for the hurricane ravaged area.
Lindsay Levasseur (Vancouver, Canada) and Christina Pante (Vancouver, Canada), both members of the women's soccer team, Schadrac St. Louis (Garnerville, NY), Edward Murray (W. Islip, NY) and Daniel Reeves (Babylon, NY) of the Track & Field program, and former Mercy student-athlete Rebecca Pruner (Dobbs Ferry, NY), now an assistant campus manager at the White Plains campus, will be a part of a group of 23 volunteers from Mercy College who will head south during spring break from March 26 through April 1. As volunteers in the area, they will clear lots, remove debris and participate in other activities that will lead to the construction of Habitat for Humanity homes and contribute to the rebuilding of a community that was severely damaged during Hurricane Katrina in the summer of 2005.
"When there are so many people in need and so few opportunities to give them direct help, a project such as this is truly a blessing," said Pante, a junior defender. "I think that it's necessary for people to see that New Orleans is still in a state of devastation and requires our continual support."
The trip is part of continued outreach efforts by the entire Mercy College community. Mercy students have raised funds for the Red Cross by holding a talent showcase. They have also collected clothing and food donations for Rock of Salvation Church, faculty members are donating physical therapy equipment to a community college, and Mercy provided online education to displaced students.
"I see this trip as a chance to not only contribute to the rebuilding of a community, but to give a chance to people to rebuild a home," said Levasseur, a junior sweeper and team captain. "I don't really know what to expect. I've seen footage on the news and heard stories, but other than that I only know that the damage from Katrina is going to be very different than what I am used to."
Nearly 90 percent of the community's population was lost or displaced and St. Bernard Parish remains one of the most devastated communities in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. St. Bernard, located to the southeast of New Orleans, was completely flooded and suffered significant structural damage after the eye of the hurricane passed directly over the parish. The parish launched the St. Bernard Recovery Project in January, 2006. New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity has agreed to aid in this historic endeavor by supplying volunteers. Anyone interested in volunteering or contributing in other ways should call Mercy College Dean of Student Affairs Iris Cordero at (914) 674-7622.
About Mercy College:
Mercy College is a private, nonprofit institution founded in 1950. Its mission is to provide motivated students with the opportunity to transform their lives through higher education. An engaging and personalized learning experience is offered at five unique campuses, where high-quality education is made affordable for all students. Mercy offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in business, social sciences, health sciences, education, computer sciences, and the liberal arts. Mercy's current enrollment is roughly 9,500, and students attend classes in the Bronx, Dobbs Ferry, Manhattan, White Plains, Yorktown, and online.
