2008 Woodie Awards
SRU students use spring break to travel all over country and give back to others in need
By Julie Dye
Rocket Copy Editor
Issue date: 3/4/05 Section: Life
|
The students are split up into groups of 12 members who plan to depart SRU on March 5 and will return on March 12. The students will travel to seven different areas of the United States: San Diego, Atlanta, Denver, East St. Louis, Baltimore, Pensacola, Fla., and Baton Rouge, La.
The Spring Care Break program at SRU was started in 1994 and has seen more than 800 students participate. Volunteers have spent 134,000 hours contributing more than $1 million in service.
Bobbi Jo Wendel is a graduate assistant and coordinator of Care Break who has been with the project for eight years. This is her second time coordinating the event and she said those going on Care Break have put in a lot of time to make this a memorable spring break.
"They had to work so hard to get things donated for the trip," Wendel said. "They were able to raise the $50,000 that they needed to take the trip."
Wendel said that though she could do what the average student does on spring break, she would rather spend her free-time helping others.
"I just really like to help people and it has been an amazing experience to go to cities without the resources and help other people. Instead of going to the beach with my friends, I get to help people," Wendel said. "I have met some of my best friends on these trips and I have learned about myself and other people in inner cities."
Each of the cities has one or two undergraduate students who are responsible for finding the resources for the students who are traveling to their cities. The students who are helping out range from freshmen to seniors.
Senior Amy Kean and junior Rebecca Hume are coordinating the project in Atlanta. While in Atlanta, SRU students will team with the city's Task Force for the Homeless, working with organizations dealing with homeless issues and concerns. The agencies include the Atlanta Interfaith AIDS Network, Atlanta Day Shelter for Women and Children and the Atlanta Community Food Bank.
Sophomore Jessica Allenberg will lead the group in Baltimore and will be working with Civic Works, an AmeriCorps program, with SRU students helping develop urban parks and homes and helping with academic and recreational after-school programs.
