Altoona students spend spring break working in Dominican Republic orphanage

A group of Penn State Altoona students and faculty will use spring break to help those in need in the Dominican Republic. Twenty students and five faculty chaperones left this past Saturday to spend a week at the Hope of the Child Orphanage in Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic. They will help with various building and renovation projects and will work with the children in a variety of educational and recreational activities. In addition, they will teach English, reading and other subjects to the orphanage's children. In preparation for the trip, the group has collected children's clothing, toiletries and first-aid equipment, art supplies and other items to donate to the orphanage. This year marks the fourth annual alternative spring break trip that Penn State Altoona students and faculty have taken to the Dominican Republic.