Heher recalls when a group of Peabody students came to Cabot for a Spring Day program. "One girl came up to my roommate who was wearing boxer shorts under his pants. She asked him if he had underwear under his pants. He says 'yes.' And she says giggling 'I saw it,' and ran away."

And each student also has an individual reason for becoming involved in the program.

"I'm selfish. I like to get away from Harvard for a little while every week and this is a way. Otherwise, you can start to feel like you're living in an ivory tower," HAND Coordinator for Kirkland House Amy L. Rosenberg '86 says.

"The most special feeling is when the kids get off the bus and come into Kirkland House and they recognize you," Rosenberg says.

"I'm trying to make a little difference in the Cambridge community," Margot B. Kushel '89 says. Kushel works in a Big Brother/Big Sister program for the emotionally disturbed through the Freshman Volunteer Program. "It's rewarding working with the emotionally disturbed. The kids in general benefit by having a stable figure in their life--by having someone there to help them."

"People can get so wrapped up in school. This helps to bring them back to earth," HAND Coordinator for Adams House Jill K. Vialet '86 says. "It's a lot of fun. And it's what I like to do."

Vialet, along with Mimi Winsberg '86, also directs the Harvard Outdoor Program, a Saturday program that takes kids from the inner city outdoors. Past programs have included biking at a state park, going on a ropes course, ice-skating, and climbing Mount Monadnock.

As part of the HAND program, many of the houses also run special parties during Christmas and Easter to bring children into the house. This year the program, with the help of more than 150 freshman, sponsored a huge Halloween in the Yard. More than 300 Cambridge children showed up for the event.

"I'll never forget the Easter party the first year when we let loose 400 kids in the Yard with eggs hidden all over. People were walking through the Yard, standing around in awe watching the kids. And Wayne Meisel '82, one of the program's original directors, was hopping around in a bunny suit going up to President Bok," Vialet says.

And with that many kids wandering around, Vialet says, "You can't get too much of public service."