SVSU Students Helping Communities During Spring Break
Feb 29, 2020 @ 10:23am
Sixty Saginaw Valley State University students are continuing their predecessors' tradition of spending spring break week providing support and good will to in-need communities across the nation.
SVSU's Alternative Breaks program organized six groups — with 10 students participating in each — who began traveling today (Saturday) when spring break week begins.
When they arrive at their destinations, each team will spend the week supporting agencies and nonprofits engaging a variety of issues including providing shelter for those in need, empowering communities to overcome racism, and educating children about HIV and AIDS.
The following is a list of the planned Alternative Breaks trips and objectives:
At the Capital Area Therapeutic Riding Association in Grantville, Pennsylvania, SVSU students will support individuals with special needs and disabilities by exploring non-traditional therapies that could benefit them. At the nonprofit, that "non-traditional therapy" often involves connecting visitors with animals such as horses, goats and cats.
In Memphis, SVSU volunteers will provide education about HIV and AIDS to children at Hope House Memphis, a nonprofit that works with families affected by HIV and poverty.
Students will join the effort to eliminate substandard housing and provide shelter for the homeless with the nonprofit known as Sussex County Habitat for Humanity in Georgetown, Delaware.
With the help of Sisu Integrated Early Learning — a nonprofit in Gainesville, Georgia — students will advocate for education and literacy to the region's youth.
SVSU volunteers will support women both recovering from drug addiction and suffering from mental health disorders at the Nashville organization known as Mending Hearts Inc.
In St. Louis, students will assist LifeWise STL, a nonprofit that helps in-need individuals and families prosper financially by addressing systemic barriers in society such as racism.
Alternative Breaks is a student-run organization that has organized volunteer efforts during breaks in SVSU's school scheduling — including the winter break — since 2004.
Social media users can follow the SVSU Alternative Breaks group updates via Facebook at www.facebook.com/svsuAlternativeBreaks and Twitter at www.twitter.com/ab_svsu.
The image shows a group of SVSU students volunteering as part of the Alternative Breaks program during a trip to New Orleans in 2017, when they helped various nonprofits provide support across the community. The photo was taken by Riley Hupfer for SVSU.