Trading Swim Trunks for Tool Belts

“Spring Break” can conjure images of fun, sun and sleeping late. This month, however, United Way Worldwide and local and Student United Ways are celebrating the fifth year of a new rite of spring … Alternative Spring Break.

Through Alternative Spring Break (ASB), college students have the opportunity to demonstrate the power of young people to make a significant impact by volunteering. Last year, hundreds of volunteers contributed more than 12,000 hours during spring break in Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi and Texas.

Student United Ways on college campuses are forming teams and partnering with their local United Way to serve, for example, with the St. Bernard Project to help rebuild homes in New Orleans. Brian Duchon of United Way of Summit County, OH, will make the 16 hour drive to New Orleans with three other University of Akron students to serve from March 13-20. Brian, a graduate student and full time United Way employee, founded the Student United Way at the university because “when I saw how motivated and inspired the college students were at the first two ASB’s I went to, I knew it was something we had to offer here. I wish I had the same opportunity when I was in college.”  

Laura Tan, coordinator of Young Adult Engagement at United Way of Morris County, NJ, and a 10 student team from Drew University will be at St. Bernard from March 6-15. The work itself is important, says Laura, but “what sets ASB apart is the time spent reflecting on your goals for the experience, what you are learning and how it will impact your future.”  Students become energized and inspired, she said, “when they see others who are interested in service, from all parts of the country. They build connections that last and forge bonds that transcend their diversity.”

Local and Student United Ways are also hosting "in-your-own-backyard" ASB experiences for young adults in their communities. On March 2 and 3, the Student United Way of Northern Michigan University in Marquette organized an Extreme Agency Makeover at Lake Superior Village Youth and Family Center, just off the main campus. Twenty students painted bathrooms, built benches, added storage and provided other assistance and plan to celebrate their hard work with a bowling party.

For those students whose schools do not yet have a Student United Way, there’s the ASB National Program. From March 28-April 3, students from across the nation will meet in Biloxi, Mississippi to focus on United Way Gulf Coast recovery and rebuilding efforts. Students attend the national program and often return to campus and start a Student United Way.

Another nationwide effort entails ASB in New Orleans for the nation's largest and most successful minority scholarship program. United Way Worldwide and the Gates Millennium Scholars program will focus on service projects tied to the Scholars’ program priorities: science, math and education.  And Deloitte, a national ASB sponsor, has worked with UWW and United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta to create impactful service projects tied to education for employees and other local volunteers.

Learn more about Student United Ways and ASB!

Volunteering in Haiti and Chile

Since the earthquakes rocked Haiti and Chilepeople around the world are asking to volunteer their time. Because of conditions on the ground, United Way is not currently sending volunteers to Haiti or Chile.

If you have prior disaster relief experience, have fluency in the local language and have expertise in technical fields such as medicine, communications logistics, water/sanitation engineering, we encourage you to register with the Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI.org) volunteer database.

As Haitians enter the United States as repatriates, refugees, and adoptees, United Way will work to provide for immediate needs such as emergency shelter, food and clothing, as well as services such as emergency health care and family reunification.

Longer-term support includes transitioning refugees from emergency shelters into appropriate housing and establishing a system of social services to help refugees settle in the community of their choice and achieve self-sufficiency. Please use the opportunity finder below or contact your local United Way directly to find out about these types of volunteer opportunities.