{"id":213828,"date":"2026-06-08T17:52:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T17:52:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/213828\/"},"modified":"2026-06-08T17:52:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T17:52:10","slug":"teens-row-the-erie-canal-to-raise-funds-for-homeless-ministry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/213828\/","title":{"rendered":"Teens row the Erie Canal to raise funds for homeless ministry"},"content":{"rendered":"

Twelve local teens recently embarked upon an eight-day expedition along the Erie Canal. These young men, all members of the McQuaid Jesuit High School<\/a> Crew Team, will row 368 miles in a narrow racing boat, and their Row for Hope<\/a> will raise money for Rochester\u2019s House of <\/a>Mercy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a nice opportunity to combine rowing and service. It\u2019s not really something you see too often,\u201d remarked team member Elliot Epstein, who will be a senior next school year.<\/p>\n

The combination of rowing and community service used to be more commonplace, as the Row for Hope was an annual tradition for many years, explained Jonathan Covney, who has coached McQuaid\u2019s crew team for the last decade. The tradition has faltered in recent years, but this year\u2019s crop of rowers \u2014 and their parents \u2014 are eager to bring it back, according to team member Owen Nearpass, who also will be a senior next school year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re finally bringing back this tradition that hasn\u2019t been done annually in a long time. \u2026 I\u2019m really hoping that we get to build a lot of momentum for next year and the year after. We\u2019re just trying to get the ball rolling,\u201d Owen said.<\/p>\n

The Row for Hope will be a physically demanding journey <\/p>\n

The 12 McQuaid students participating in the Row for Hope will traverse the length of the Erie Canal in a narrow boat called a four-man shell, which is approximately 40 feet long, Covney said. Although it\u2019s called a four-man shell, it actually has room for four rowers and one coxswain, who steers the boat and motivates his teammates, explained rising senior Kris Michatek.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll alternate who\u2019s getting to steer and who\u2019s rowing. We\u2019re taking three-hour shifts,\u201d Kris said, noting that the three-hour shifts will be more physically demanding than the team\u2019s typical workouts. \u201cOur practices aren\u2019t even three hours.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be a lot, but we\u2019ll be able to handle it,\u201d remarked Jonathan Piehler, who will be a junior at McQuaid next school year.<\/p>\n

A parent will follow the racing boat in a rented pontoon, ferrying the team\u2019s camping gear, food and first-aid supplies, as well as team members who have come off of their rowing shifts.<\/p>\n

McQuaid rowers plan several local stops along the Erie Canal <\/p>\n

The group began its journey on June 7 in Buffalo, launching at 6:30 a.m. and heading east. After stopping for lunch in Medina, the group arrived in Brockport around 5 p.m.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s their longest day. That\u2019s 60 miles, that\u2019s the biggest haul,\u201d Covney said.<\/p>\n

The group had dinner in the village and camped overnight at the Brockport Welcome Center on the Erie Canal. Upon meeting the boys and learning about the Row for Hope, several people made large donations to the cause, according to the parents on the pontoon boat.<\/p>\n

The group launched from Brockport on June 8 and planned to stop for lunch in Pittsford and make it to Palmyra by 4 p.m. On June 9, the group will depart Palmyra at 7 a.m., break for lunch in Clyde and arrive in Weedsport by 4:15 p.m.<\/p>\n

The group will leave Weedsport at 8 a.m. on June 10 and reach Oneida Shores by evening. Over the next several days, the rowers will pass through such locales as Sylvan Beach, Rome and Glenville before arriving in Waterford \u2014 where the Erie Canal meets the Hudson River \u2014 on June 14.<\/p>\n

Several rowing clubs and restaurants along the way have extended offers of hospitality to the Row for Hope crew, and Covney hopes others will come out and support them as they pass through.<\/p>\n

\u201cHopefully, we\u2019ll see some of the local people row alongside us as well as we go by their boathouses,\u201d Covney said.<\/p>\n

Fundraising voyage helps students answer God\u2019s call <\/p>\n

Rising senior Luke Schiralli hopes people who see his team rowing by will be inspired to donate money to the House of Mercy, which serves Rochester\u2019s homeless population, or perhaps to consider volunteering at the shelter. Members of the crew team volunteered at the House of Mercy earlier this year and also took part in fundraisers for the ministry.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are all called to help those in need,\u201d Luke said, noting that the Row for Hope is one way the McQuaid students are seeking to answer that call.<\/p>\n

McQuaid students often are encouraged to be \u201cmen for others\u201d in the Jesuit tradition, and the rowers are doing just that by participating in this fundraiser, Owen added.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a nice challenge to start the summer with, and it\u2019s for a good cause,\u201d remarked rising junior Soren Eschenfelder.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a fun thing to do with a bunch of close friends, and it has the added benefit of actually benefiting other people,\u201d Luke added.<\/p>\n

EDITOR\u2019S NOTE: To learn more about the Row for Hope or how to make a donation, visit www.mcquaidcrew.org\/s-projects-side-by-side<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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