CARIBOU, Maine – The Bread of Life Soup Kitchen has received some much-needed renovations thanks to a group of high school students on a mission trip from Westford, Massachusetts.
For the past 10 years students from Westford Academy high school have traveled around the country helping those in need as part of their mission work through St. Catherine of Alexandria parish.
Students jump at the chance to hit the road and lend a hand so much so there’s a waiting list.
“Our mission is to help the less fortunate and fix up communities that need help,” Sarah Beattie, Westford Academy senior, said as she was in the middle of building a ramp for the soup kitchen with her classmates. “It feels good to help other people, it’s fun too.”
About 150 students and adult chaperones made home base at the University of Maine at Presque Isle last week. Students were spread throughout The County from Caribou to Houlton building, painting, hammering, roofing, gardening and even splitting wood.
“They take a week out of their life every year to give back,” Kathy Mockler, adult chaperone, said. “In past years we’ve gone to Mississippi to help out after Katrina. Then they did a few years in New York and New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy hit. There weren’t many needs for disaster relief this year so we decided we would find a location where hopefully we can spend a couple years coming back to.”
Alongside their mission obligations is a spiritual component. “We have mass every morning and a two- to three-hour chapel at night at St. Mary’s in Presque Isle,” Thea Lacerte, Westford Academy senior, said.
“Part of our mission is certainly about the work, the volunteering and part fellowship and a little bit about spirituality,” Mockler said. “So we try to mix up the things for the kids. It helps the kids grow in a lot of ways.”
The County might be the home these students are looking for for future summer mission trips over the next few years, “This would be a good place maybe to settle for a couple years to come help the local people,” Mockler said.
