Charity vs. chillin’
Many students choose to head somewhere warm during spring break. Others need to stay in Cache Valley for work, financial limits or other obligations. These students might be disappointed they are not beach-bound, but there are many opportunities for them to warm their hearts through local service.
Ang Haroldsen, graduate in psychology said, “Doing service not only helps other people, but it provides opportunity for growth and resume building. It helps you make connections and lasting memories.”
Haroldsen works with USU’s Student Service Center through the Americorps VISTA program. She will be travelling to California for an alternative spring break helping with an ecological service project, graffiti removal and meal and bedding preparation at a homeless shelter.
Though it is too late for students to plan for University-arranged alternative service trips this year, there are plenty of local charity opportunities available. Haroldsen is dedicated to serving the community and said she hopes other students will find ways to serve over spring break.
Jordan Hunt also works at the service center. He chooses to spend his time serving because it gives him a venue to develop his ideas.
“Other people should be involved in service because it is a great way to meet people and get involved,” Hunt said.
He said there are plenty of ways to serve in Cache Valley.
“I would encourage things like making blankets. If you have free time and want a stress reliever – and if you already know how to make blankets or hats, you can always use those skills to make (items) for CAPSA,” Hunt said.
Karrie Freeman, a Community Abuse Prevention Agency (CAPSA) representative said there are many opportunities for willing volunteers. They are currently preparing for a 5K and are looking for people to sign up and sponsor other runners. If people are interested in the race, but cannot participate, they can hang up fliers to promote it.
Freeman said there are always volunteer opportunities available, and if interested, people can contact CAPSA and the staff is willing to help provide service ideas.
Hunt serves for the Food Pantry. He said if students do a food drive during the break, they could provide the pantry with goods when school reconvenes. The pantry often needs more supplies after the holiday season, when giving becomes less popular.
Marinda Zaleski, a senior in social work, is an intern for the Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Information (SAAVI) Office. She is the volunteer coordinator and said they are always in need of volunteers. Zaleski organizes and mobilizes the centers’ volunteers so they can have as many opportunities as possible to serve.
“Our office was created specifically to deal with interpersonal violence. That ranges anywhere between domestic violence and sexual assault to hazing, stalking and other situations that include violence or the threat of violence,” Zaleski said.
Along with helping victims of assault, the office also serves a purpose to spread awareness and educate the campus.
“These things do happen and we need to confront them, rather than ignore them,” she said. “Without our volunteers, we would not be able to do a whole lot. The education part becomes especially in need of volunteers because only Monica (SAAVI coordinator) and myself cannot reach the whole campus.”
Zaleski said volunteers are an important part of the organization.
“There is not enough money to employ people to help with the problems that our society faces and I have seen with just a little help from our volunteers, we have the ability to make the move toward necessary change,” she said.
Currently, SAAVI’s focus is on their biggest event of the year – Walk a Mile in her Shoes. This event raises about half their budget for the following year.
Casey Allred, founder of Effect International, said he thinks serving over the break is a great idea and is very rewarding. Effect International is a non-profit organization dedicated to building schools and reading rooms in India and Nepal.
“If people are interested in ways to help out, Effect International would be a great outlet,” he said. “We are always looking for more volunteers, and over the break specifically, people could help out by collecting books, raising money and awareness and learning more about the cause.”
According to their website, the Cache Valley Volunteer Center said they have a mission to promote volunteerism in Cache Valley, increase citizen involvement and to promote causes and services. Their website provides a list of more than 30 charitable organizations with contact information.
Zaleski said students who are staying local can have a fulfilling break and can continue to serve when school starts again.
“A little bit of help from everyone can do a whole lot,” she said.
– natashabodily@aggiemail.usu.edu