Main Line Catholic School Students Help One Of Country's Poorest Communities

More than a dozen Devon Preparatory School students chose to take a break from summer vacation to participate in a mission trip to one of the country’s poorest communities.

According to the Main Line Catholic high school, 15 students and three adult chaperons spent this month in Cumberland, Maryland, where they helped area churches with food distribution and youth outreach, as well as landscaping, painting and building a wheelchair ramp.

The trip, organized by Devon Prep teacher Joe Lewis, through the Catholic Heart Workcamp program, saw the students spending their evenings at Bishop Walsh School, in Cumberland, where the slept on air mattresses in a classroom.

“Our students really showed what it means to be hardworking, polite and cooperative,” said Lewis in a statement from the school. “They were courteous and showed a willingness to help. Many of the residents were moved to tears in offering their appreciation.

“It gave each of us a profound sense of accomplishment in knowing we had helped so many people in need.”

Cumberland, Maryland, had once been the second largest city in Maryland, and was given the nickname “Queen City.” However, industry declined following World War II, as business and development began concentrating in the eastern part of the state. Now, it is one of the poorest areas, by per capita income, in the United States.

Photo courtesy of Devon Preparatory School. The participants, from left: Mike Noonan of Broomall, Junior Michael Noonan of Broomall, Junior Willson Camp of Spring City, Devon Prep Teacher Joe Lewis of Exton, Juniors Paul Yoo of King of Prussia, Zachary Eidman of Collegeville, Mitchell Young of Springfield, William Schultheis of Ardmore, Jack Wagner of West Chester, Tyler Keough of Collegeville, Kevin Holmes of Ardmore, and Jacob Klick of Wynnewood, Eighth Grader Dylan Smoot of West Chester, Junior Christopher McAlee of West Chester, Junior Brandon Smoot West Chester, Sophomore James Costello of Rosemont, Senior Andrew Barella of Lansdale and Sam Young of Springfield.