While other Notre Dame Academy students spent their spring break on the beach soaking up the sun, eighteen juniors and seniors were replacing walls, bathrooms, and a roof,  painting, and making other repairs to a run-down house in Canton, Mississippi.  The students along with three chaperones headed south from Green Bay in three vans on March 17^th and returned on the 24^th with much given and much learned.

 Canton is a small town in Madison County with a population of 17,000, 70% of whom are African American.  The county is home for the richest and poorest in the country.  However, the percentage of people that suffer extreme economic hardship is much larger than the percentage of people who are extremely wealthy.  "One side of the street would have these huge plantation homes and then on the other were shacks," senior Amanda Gaura said. 

 Madison County Allied Against Poverty (Mad-CAAP), the agency we worked with, is a non-profit organization that operates to better the lives of families in Madison County in need of assistance due to poverty.  Their mission is to break the cycle of poverty one family at a time with programs in emergency assistance, housing, and education.

 The organization was developed through the generosity of a retired salesman named Harold Waltrip.  Mr. Waltrip's idea prospered after he built a cottage for his disabled daughter, Krista, to give her a feeling of independence.  While building the cottage, he realized how many people in the county were in desperate need of a home.  He acted upon his inspiration, and through building Krista's Kottages, he makes numerous dreams come true.  Waltrip has built fourteen cottages since 1999 and has made repairs on a vast number of houses.

 Despite numbers, the effect of the service on both those who give it and receive it is greater than any numbers show.   "The experience not only gave me a chance to work with amazing people and get to know my fellow students better; but it also taught me a lot about myself and how I want to live my life," senior Kristin Steel said.  "I think it is great that our students cn put their Catholic social teaching into action with a group of committed adults like the leaders of Mad-CAPP," commented Sister Laura.

 In addition to building or repairing homes for the elderly and/or handicapped, Mad-CAAP helps at food kitchens, cleans up garbage in local communities and participates in meals-on-wheels.  Church groups, college groups such as Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin, local student organizations, and other interested individuals act as labor for these projects.  "I think it is awesome that people dedicate their time to help others who are not as fortunate," junior Katie Dercks said.

 We are grateful to all our "share holders" who contributed financially, provided building materials, and supported us with your prayers.  May God bless you for your generosity.