Thinking about doing something different March 3-11, 2006? Put your spring break to good use and lend a helping hand to hurricane-affected areas during “Route 10 Rockets on the Road to Compassion.”
The alternative spring break trip is sponsored by the Office of Service-Learning and Community Engagement and the Toledo Campus Ministry Fellowship.
An informational meeting will be held Thursday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m. in Student Union Room 3018 about the program.
During the alternative spring break, students will travel to Nashville, Tenn., and then split into groups to help with disaster relief in New Orleans, Bay St. Louis, Miss., Alabama or Orange, Texas. The trip costs $200 per person and includes transportation, lodging and food once at the volunteer site.
The program is an alternative to “ the option of going to Cancun or the Bahamas. We’re trying to keep the focus on the community, service and helping others,” said Donovan Nichols, AmeriCorps*VISTA student leader.
“We’re telling people to expect the unexpected,” he said. “We don’t know what people will be doing yet, because the needs of the areas may be different now versus in March.” He added students should expect housing situations similar to the area residents, which could include sleeping on cots or floors. “We’re trying to be up front about what students can expect, but also get people excited about this,” Nichols explained.
Nichols said students can indicate preferences of where they’d like to be stationed. After traveling to the sites on Saturday, March 4, “Sunday can be for sightseeing.” He explained students will likely work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each weekday, with the evening hours open for reflection or exploring the area. On Saturday, March 11, the group will return to UT.
Deadline for registration for the alternative spring break is Nov. 30.
For more information, contact Nichols at 419.530.6043 or visit the program Web site at www.servicelearning.utoledo.edu/asb.htm.
