Fourteen students will have the chance to work with the not-for-profit organization Neighborhood Houses in St. Louis for an upcoming alternative Spring Break.
Twice a year, Student Voluntary Services provides students with a volunteer opportunity away from Muncie.
Spring Break Alternative co-adviser Jessica Chandler said choosing to spend the break with Neighborhood Houses was an easy decision.
"We had a nice little rich history with them from our past breaks," Chandler said. "We've spend breaks there before, and that is where the Greek Alternative Spring Break was last year."
Neighborhood Houses is a program of the United Church of Christ. According to neighborhoodhouses.org, their core values consist of valuing and respecting people, providing life-changing programs, promoting the value of education and learning, serving those with the greatest with dignity and compassion and making a positive difference in the lives of the people and the communities they serve.
Participants will be working with the organization in the morning and helping out with the after-school programs in the afternoon. Students will also be reporting on their reflections of the experience.
Devon Rayasa, Spring Break Alternative co-adviser, said attending the alternative break trip for the first time this past Fall Break was a great experience.
"It made me more self-aware, really," Rayasa said. "It was really great socially, and it was also a really great opportunity to make a difference."
Students can sign up until Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. in the SVS office in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center Room 136. Students will be charged $125 for the trip, which includes all transportation, meals, housing and T-shirts.
Chandler said students choosing to spend their Spring Break volunteering will be very rewarded.
"I think it is a great opportunity to take your Spring Break and give back in a different way," Chandler said. "You can take your skills learned there and bring them back to the Muncie community."
Rayasa said volunteering can be beneficial socially as well.
"It is a great opportunity to meet new people you are living around."
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