Students find an alternative to the typical spring break

Erin Hillard

Although Cancun and Florida attract many college students during Spring Break, there are some who choose to spend this week serving others.
Alternative Spring Break has been available at Central Michigan University since 1995, and according to Jennifer Klein, an employee at Volunteer Central, has continued to grow since the beginning. There are now 12 sites and a new site involving immigration and border control.
The program also has a new international site in Romania where volunteers work with Habitat for Humanity. Other sites, located across the United States, include Chicago and California.
In preparation for spring break, the ten students going to each site have been meeting throughout the year to get to know one another and go through training. Two site leaders are chosen who train the volunteers. Volunteers and site leaders are all CMU students.
Each site deals with a different issue, such as HIV/Aids, child education, or urban renewal.
It’s not all work and no play. Klein said volunteers work 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and have one day off to explore the city.
Klein said alternative spring break is a great way for CMU students to experience real issues and make a difference.
“Volunteers can take what they learn in one week and grow from it, and use it in their career to inform others,” she said.
Students who have participated in Alternative Spring Break before know how important it is.
Sara Rimer, CMU junior, went to the international site last year in Mexico to work with Habitat for Humanity. This year, she’ll be going to Boston to work in a program called Community Serving, in which volunteers make and serve meals that are given to HIV sufferers.
“Alternative Spring Break is a great way for students to see how their role as a citizen is important, not just in the U.S., but internationally as well,” Rimer said. “Also, it’s a great way for students on a budget to travel and do some good in the process.”

Edited by: Mariah Richards and John Morelli