Villanovans both on the University’s campus and around the country continue to support the areas and individuals affected by the devastation brought forth by Hurricane Sandy.
On Saturday, Nov. 17, Fr. Joseph Mostardi, OSA – the University’s Director of the Center for Worship – and a group of Villanova students traveled to Staten Island, N.Y., where they assisted with the sorting and distribution of hurricane relief supplies. The trip was organized by the Center for Service and Social Justice in Villanova’s Office of Campus Ministry. On their way, perhaps they passed another Villanovan – University alumnus Ed Kloskowski `88 – who began his own journey to support the relief effort.
Kloskowski is running the State of New Jersey lengthwise – from top to bottom – to raise awareness for the continuing relief and rebuilding efforts and to drive contributions to those organizations that are helping by providing relief and rebuilding resources. Tabbed Run4NJ, Kloskowski is traveling a distance of 220 miles, running an average of 70 miles per day – stopping only long enough to recover and then pressing on. He is scheduled to conclude his journey Nov. 20 in Cape May, N.J.
In the week following the hurricane, Villanova University established a hurricane relief fund to benefit Catholic Social Services of the Dioceses of Camden, which serves communities along the New Jersey shore from Atlantic City to Cape May. Contributions will also assist Our Lady of Good Counsel, an Augustinian parish located in Staten Island, NY, and their local partners. Additionally, Villanova is promoting various volunteer opportunities, as well as a possible Service Break Program to send students to assist with hurricane recovery during spring break.
About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova University’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's five colleges – the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the College of Nursing and the Villanova University School of Law. As students grow intellectually, Villanova prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them.
