VENANGO CO., Pa. — Seven members and the advisor of Clarion University – Venango’s SEED Club spent spring break in service at Camp Restore, New Orleans.

Pictured: SEED Club volunteers at Love in Action Outreach. From right to left, (front row) Jocelyn Whitman of Franklin, Jenna Paratore of Johnstown, Jennifer Drda of Mercer; (back row) Jessica Veshinfsky of Indiana, Taylor Berger of Houtzdale, Autumn Young of Blanchard, Casey McVay (advisor) of Franklin, Kayla Weismantle of Slippery Rock.

The purpose of the trip was to engage in a different culture, serve others, gain a deeper understanding of the world and learn how the restoration of a major city after a natural disaster takes perseverance and the effort of the entire community.

Among the services they performed were: baking cookies and bread for a nursing home, interviewing nursing home residents to record their life stories as keepsakes, serving clients at a food pantry, sorting beads and novelty items from Mardi Gras, and organizing donations and materials at a shelter for victims of violence.

Casey McVay, assistant director of admissions and advisor of SEED Club, accompanied these students: Taylor Berger, of Houtzdale; Jennifer Drda, of Mercer; Jenna Paratore (club president), of Johnstown; Jessica Veshifinsky, of Indiana; Kayla Weismantle, of Slippery Rock; Jocelyn Whitman, of Franklin; and Autumn Young, of Blanchard.