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Reaching others on spring break
Farah Khan promotes a car wash to benefit victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.
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“Students come back from break re-energized and fulfilled in a way that a trip to Mexico could never accomplish.”
For 41 UB students, spring break was not a time for partying or basking in the sun; it was a time for giving back.
During the university’s annual Alternative Spring Break, coordinated by the Center for Student Leadership and Community Engagement, one team of students traveled to New Orleans and another traveled around Western New York, volunteering their time to help these communities.
The New Orleans team was in the Big Easy March 12-20, working with the Office of Disaster Response for the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana to rebuild homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The 19 UB students, who stayed in local dormitories, also took part in a wetlands tour to learn more about the geographical challenges faced by this region.
The 22 students who stayed in Western New York were involved in a variety of service projects across the region. They included preparing lunch at Buffalo’s City Mission, recycling materials with Buffalo Reuse, working with senior citizens at the Bristol Home in Buffalo and the Harris Hill Nursing Facility in Williamsville and building homes with Habitat for Humanity in Rochester.
The students also worked with Junior Achievement in Buffalo, promoted the Arts and Music Festival and cleaned up shop windows to promote future business development with the Niagara Falls Professional Association, and cleaned up parks with Buffalo’s Olmstead Parks Conservatory.
Members of the local team stayed in Goodyear Hall on the South Campus for the week. During their down time, they were able to get a “taste of Buffalo,” taking in some of the city’s favorite restaurants and pastimes, such as attending a Buffalo Bandits game and touring Buffalo City Hall. They also viewed the documentary “The Forgotten City” to gain a historical perspective on some of the social issues plaguing the Buffalo area.
“Every year, we see more and more students interested in giving back to their community,” says Amy Wilson, associate director of the Center for Student Leadership and Community Engagement. “Alternative Spring Break is an ideal way to spend time off from school. Students come back from break re-energized and fulfilled in a way that a trip to Mexico could never accomplish.”
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