Students volunteer around the country

Rather than lounging around on a beach somewhere warm or engaging in some other self-pleasing activity. Five faculty members and 62 students decided to dedicate their spring break to helping others.

Their goal was accomplished through Destination 2007, a week-long community service trip offered through the UW-River Falls. Students paid $175 each to participate and held fundraisers to make up the difference. This year’s teams raised $3500.

These trips allow participants to satisfy community needs and make new friendships. They also broaden student’s perspectives and teach them to appreciate what they have been blessed with will providing their help and services to others, trip coordinator, Amanda Moeller said.

The sites visited this year were: Chicago, Illinois; Athens, Alabama; Kansas City Missouri; Gulfport, Mississippi and Crossville, Tennessee.

In Chicago, UWRF students engaged in four different activities geared to help others.

Students joined forces with students from Northwestern University and participated in the Campus Kitchens Project, an anti-hunger program. Their duties consisted of preparing and delivering food.

“Working with Campus Kitchens was an amazing experience. They were so appreciative when they got their meals. It meant a lot to them that college students were giving up their free time to help,” student Jeff Parker said.

“My perception has changed, I won’t complain about being hungry, because I have the opportunity to eat,” freshman Becca Peine said.

Students also volunteered at The Children’s Place Association, an organization that serves children affected by HIV/AIDS and Chicago House, an organization that provides housing to HIV affected families and individuals.

Students did not know to what extent the children were affected by HIV. Whether they actually had HIV or a close family member had HIV was not disclosed to students, Moeller said.

“It changed my perspective,” Peine said.

Peine said working with the children and not knowing how they were affected by HIV was quite the experience.

“This trip taught me that if I am determined enough I can do what my mind is set to do,” freshman Nikki Shonoiki said.

The students agreed that the trips were educational as well as rewarding.

“I thought outside the box ... I am more aware of what HIV is,” Shonoiki said.

Parker said it was amazing to work with kids who are affected by HIV. They were really great kids.

In Athens, UWRF students participated in a Collegiate Challenge, spending the week building a home and partnering with a Habitat for Humanity affiliate. The focus of this trip was affordable housing in a rural neighborhood. A local family provided room and board for participants for the week.

“It was nice meeting the future homeowner of our project,” junior, Hayley Hagmann said.

Hagmann said the trip makes her want to volunteer more. Social work is her major and helping others is what she enjoys.

“I learned so much about construction in the process,” Hagmann said.

Junior Jessie Gadach agreed with Hagmann.

“This trip makes me want to volunteer more by stepping out of my comfort zone and help others,” Gadach said.

Gadach said the host family was very warm and welcoming which made the group feel as though they were part of the family.

In Kansas City, UWRF students also worked with Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge. They worked with the future homeowner, and the focus of this trip was affordable housing in an urban setting.

Students resided in a homeless shelter for women and children.

Senior Katie Bollig said this was the first time she worked with Habitat, and she realized the need for more programs geared to help those with low income. It was ironic for the students to stay at a church for the homeless while they were building a home for someone else.

“There is an overwhelming need for more programs like this,” Bollig said.

In Gulfport, UWRF students returned for the third time since Hurricane Katrina destroyed the area two years ago. This project was hosted by North Carolina Baptist men. Students worked with other volunteers and locals to help rebuild homes and spirits lost in the wake of the storm. The focus of this trip was disaster relief and recovery.

In Crossville, students spent the week working on the Cumberland Trail. This project was set up by a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion, maintenance and construction of trails throughout Tennessee. In one week’s time UWRF student’s built over 1.5 miles of the trail. The focus of was environmental protection.

“It was rewarding to be part of something that will be enjoyed by others in the future,” senior Jordan Liethen said. “This project gave me an idea of how much hard work goes into rebuilding trails.”

The students said the experience enriched their lives and given the opportunity they would do it again in a heartbeat. Many may wonder why a student would want to spend their hard-earned spring break helping others instead of taking it easy. For these students the choice did not have to be contemplated at all. “It was not your typical spring break, but I am passionate about helping others -- it was the opportunity to change people’s life,” Hagmann said.

Others enjoyed the team work aspect of the trip.

“It was nice coming together to accomplish a goal, we worked well together,” Shonoiki said. “It was a good time.”

Such trips also have the ability to shatter existing stereotypes of college students.

“So many people view college students as self-serving with no care for the community. These kinds of trips can show others that we do care,” Liethen said.

Those students interested in Destination 2008 trips can look for more information next fall regarding sites and the application process.