Spring Break means volunteerism, not vacation, for some
by Crissy Mullen

A few VWC students will be spending spring break in an unusual fashion. Instead of rest and relaxation, these students have opted to participate in the Alternative Spring Break (ASB), March 7-15.

Participants in the ASB will be working towards rebuilding and rehabilitating the small community of Cape Charles, located in Northampton County on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Break Away, a national non-profit organization, has coordinated the ASB.

There is an estimated 20,000 students across the nation that will be involved in an ASB, and VWC will be a part of it.

One of the reasons students join the effort is because it’ll be fun and a good opportunity to help people.

“It’s good clean fun,” said sophomore Jessica Branton, who will participate. The College of The Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, will collaborate with Break Away and VWC by sending approximately 11 students to work with the Cape Charles community. The team from VWC will be staying within the community for the week, probably in a community building. The clean-up will involve house repairs, painting, building, and renovating substandard homes.

The training and orientation is free, although there is an individual fee of $125 that will cover costs for food, supplies, and housing. The group will not reap a profit — this is one of the cheapest ASBs, according to Carol Clyde, VCCC*Community Service Assistant, Americorps.

In past ASBs to Cape Charles, participants worked on a community center and a community garden.

The goals of ASBs are to have fun and be productive while meeting new people, making friends, and feeling good about yourself. Doing so will give a new concept of “community” while making a positive difference in other people’s lives.