University students who would rather serve a feast than eat one over the upcoming holiday season need to act quickly. The application deadline for participation in the Community Service Center’s Alternative Winter Break program is Friday, Nov. 11.
For this year’s Alternative Winter Break, student volunteers will combat homelessness and hunger in Memphis, Tenn., Dec. 18 through 21.
“What a lot of people don’t realize is that Memphis is one of the poorest cities in the nation,” said Rachel Edington, assistant director of the CSC. “A significant population of the city is in need of help.”
Edington said participants will help deliver food to elderly residents through the local Meals on Wheels program as well as serve dinners in a soup kitchen and the Memphis Manna House hospitality residence.
“In a lot of cases, the Meals on Wheels program goes beyond just delivering food to impoverished people,” she said. “It’s often the only personal contact these people have for the day. You can tell that they really enjoy talking to and spending time with the students.”
Nov. 11also marks the application deadline for the Alternative MLK Break trip to Greensboro, Ala., and Alternative International Spring Break program in Guatemala. In both initiatives, volunteers will assist with construction and repair efforts.
Andres Mendieta, student director of marketing for the CSC, said she doesn’t want students to worry if they are unable to meet the deadline for participation in these programs.
“There are alternative break trips planned for every major school break, including the summer,” he said in an emailed statement.
Plans for upcoming programs include helping Habitat for Humanity in Baldwin County, Ala., during spring break and a weeklong medical outreach session in the Dominican Republic for the May interim rest period.
Participation in the programs does come with a price tag, however.
Emily Hice, student director of the Alternative Break Program, said students will need to pay around $300 for the Memphis trip and approximately $1,700 for the Dominican Republic trip.
Edington said everything was covered under the fee, including transportation, lodging and all meals for the duration of the trip.
“All you have to pay for [besides the trip fee] is a souvenir or something extra, like ice cream, if you want it,” she said.
She said full scholarship opportunities are available for two to six students for each trip, as well. The scholarship deadline has passed for the winter and MLK breaks, but the CSC is still accepting applications for future trips.
Hice was confident the Alternative Break experience rewards students’ bucks with plenty of bang. She transferred to Alabama from Kent State University and found her first Alternative Break trip in 2009 was a great way to connect with new classmates. Hice’s experience left such an impression on her that she applied for her current position of student director.
“The trip was a great way for me to meet new people and to get involved with the University,” she said in an emailed statement. “I fell in love with the program and never looked back.”
Applications for initiatives under Friday’s deadline, as well as participation and scholarship applications for future programs, are available on the CSC website at volunteer.ua.edu.
Mendieta said the CSC usually accepts 10 to 15 volunteers for each group on a first-come, first-served basis. A few spots remain for the Memphis trip.
Edington encouraged all interested students to apply and participate.
“If you are looking to give back to the community, this is a great way to do it,” she said. “You get to meet UA students you may not meet otherwise and serve with others who have a similar passion for helping out.”
