Unique tour
WILLIMANTIC — A group of talented vocalists from Eastern Connecticut State University embarked on a unique tour of post-hurricane Puerto Rico this spring break. Members of the Chamber Singers performed in concerts and worked on service projects in the slowly recovering island. Among the singers is Halie Poirier ’18 of Putnam. Poirier is a soprano and majors in music. In addition to three performances in San Juan, the group volunteered in the hurricane-battered neighborhood of La Perla, just beyond the walls of Old San Juan. Divided into three work crews, they cleared away debris from the residential section of the neighborhood while others repaired roofs and restored gardens. “I wasn’t sure what to expect when I stepped foot onto the island,” said Poirier.
“I was curious about the extent of the damage from this past summers’ hurricanes, and it was very clear that San Juan was trying diligently to return to its regular state. It wasn’t until we got to Old San Juan, more specifically, La Perla, where we saw some real devastation. This was shocking to me. I was very eager to do the most I could volunteering.”