Once again, student volunteers from Clarke County High, with their teacher, Ms. Stephanie McClaine, visited the Abbey to help us with a work project. This happy relationship between the Abbey and the students has been developing over the past four years. This past Saturday six guys showed up to help us clean up what we call “shoe boxes” or shelves for work shoes and boots, and clothing hooks near the old washroom. Much of what was there had been left behind by monks now deceased or at Carroll Manor. Before the Abbot left for his Sabbatical, I asked him to check on what was still in his “shoe box”; he replied, “I didn’t even put any of that stuff there!” Well, you know how guys can be who have a squirrel’s instinct: an empty space, even with someone else’s name on it, is irresistible.
The students did a great job of dividing up what they found there as potential contributions to the Blue Ridge Hospice Thrift Shop in Berryville, the Salvation Army in Winchester, the recycling bin–and just plain trash. They followed up with a good clean up of the area and made a delivery to the Blue Ridge Thrift Shop for us. From what I can tell, the entire monastic community is grateful for their time, work and presence.
We’re hoping that some time in the future, our property will be a resource for some of their ecological studies and projects.
Mike says
It is great to see this kind of interaction between the monastery and the school system. I hope it continues to be an enriching experience for everyone involved.
Roger Peyton says
Bravo! Is the “Barber Shop” still in that general area?