Trading Pencils for Paintbrushes

Lyndon State College students are hoping to return and continue working in Waterbury, Vt. during spring vacation in April.

They just returned from working during winter break to assist with the rebuilding that is still taking place.

Helping people was a big reason Hannah Frigon, a sophomore visual arts major, went.

"I thought about it and I felt that I would be more productive if I went and helped someone else then sit home and do nothing for a week," she said. "I'm the type of person that feels that accomplishment comes from the joy you get from helping others. Knowing that someone is happy or feels better and knowing that it was because of me makes me feel so much better all around."

"We should support those around us," said graphic design major Amber Haas, one of the students involved. "It is the morally correct thing to do."

Haas said another reason she decide to help was because she saw the effects of tropical storm Irene first hand in her town of Rochester, Vt.

"It had an impact," she said. "There were bridges washed out and it was one of those trapped towns so I definitely can relate to some people that were in Waterbury."

Seven students spent all week working in Waterbury and a few more showed up to help when they could.

"Most of it revolved around helping people with finishing touches on their house," Haas said. "They have most of the actual buildings rebuilt. It was mostly interior work."

That work included painting, cleaning, plastering, flooring, moving furniture, and other jobs people needed done.

"There is still plenty left to do," she said. "Even though a lot of houses are rebuilt and it looks okay on the outside, a lot of the inside of buildings still looks like there was five feet of flood water. There are still a lot of people who just don't have the money or can't afford to rebuild."

The students that wanted to stay all week did not have to worry about shelter themselves, as there were host families that provided housing.