Saint Anselm College’s tradition of service was passed like a torch from the 30 Road for Hope walkers who arrived on campus Aug. 26 to Saint Anselm’s newest members of the community, the class of 2011.
Davison Hall was the site of this event, as Road for Hope leaders Dan Cushman, Liz McEvoy and Sarah Raabis handed the Saint Anselm banner to the 2007 Orientation Leaders just before they and more than 500 freshmen and other new students headed out for their day of community service. Both the Road for Hope and the New Student Day of Service are annual events that help mark the opening of a new academic year.
“For me, the significance of passing the Saint Anselm banner to the orientation leader is a symbol of transition,” said Raabis '08. “The senior orientation leaders were about to lead freshman into service, so the banner marked the transition of our senior class that will be leaving to the new class coming in; a transition of the Saint Anselm College tradition of service.”
During the Day of Service, new students fan out to charitable organizations across Greater Manchester, lending their labor and their hearts by visiting the elderly, cleaning parks and painting walls.
The ninth annual Road for Hope involved a 130-mile trek from Lewiston, Maine, to Saint Anselm, as walkers raised over $17,000. The 30 students trekked onto campus around noon Saturday, Aug. 26, with blistered feet and tired legs, but high spirits.
In all, the event has raised more than $130,500 for nine, non-profit organizations, which are found along the route. Charities supported by the walk include Good Shepherd Food Bank (Lewiston, Maine), St. Charles Children’s Home (Rochester, N.H.) and Kid’s Café (Manchester, N.H.).
“People have been extremely charitable along our route” says leader McEvoy '08. “The group this year is so positive and all the brand new people have brought so much enthusiasm to the trip.” This is McEvoy’s second year and she said she makes the trek because the charities heavily depend on the money the group makes, “the people we meet along the way and the gratitude and generosity we receive keep us coming back year after year.”