Lutheran students from the University of Mary Washington spent spring break helping the homeless in Philadelphia. Visit the Photo Place

Spring break is not just about partying these days

A different spin on spring break

BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE

Date published: 3/31/2007

By Flowers Umble

BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE

Like many college students, six from the University of Mary Washington headed for a sunny, scenic locale right on the beach for their spring break.

Also like many other college students, these six members of Trinity Epicopal Church's Canterbury Club spent most of that week in service projects.

Alternative spring breaks--spending the college break doing volunteer work instead of partying--are a growing trend.

Break Away, a group that helps students prepare for volunteer trips, estimated that 35,000 students took an alternative spring break last year. And there are signs that it's a growing trend.

Such trips are offered through schools, nonprofit groups and churches. Three area campus ministries offered alternative breaks this year.

"I think that a lot of churches are looking for alternative spring break opportunities, so that spring break is not just about partying and all that, but is an opportunity to experience another person's tragedy and help in some way," said Sarah Midzalkowski, associate pastor at Trinity Episcopal Church and leader of the Canterbury Club.

She took six students to Bay St. Louis, Miss., to repair damage from Hurricane Katrina.

"There's still so much work to be done," Midzal-kowski said. "There are places that look exactly the same as the day after the hurricane."

She called the experience "life-changing" and said that the most incredible part was how eager the people were to share their stories.

"For them to know that someone cares was tremendous, because they feel like they've been abandoned," Midzalkowski said. "You get to hear the tragedies but also see the soul and the heart of the people who are there."

Students who volunteered in Philadelphia also heard a lot of stories, said Laura Sinche-Vitucci, associate pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg. She took five UMW students to cook at a homeless shelter and to help at a recovery center for drug addicts.

The Baptist Student Center chose an inner-city volunteer experience. In Atlanta, they ran Bible study classes, taught a GED course, fed the homeless and cleaned a community center.

Ashley Schumann, who went on the trip, said that for most Christians the party atmosphere of spring break isn't their scene and promotes "a lifestyle we haven't chosen.

"I didn't feel like I gave anything up. If anything, I just gained."

Amy Flowers Umble: 540/735-1973
Email: aumble@freelancestar.com

Alternative spring break trips range from international to the next town over. The three University of Mary Washington campus ministries chose trips that weren't too far away to keep costs down. And they're not just for college students. Anyone can take a volunteer vacation. For alternative spring breaks or volunteer vacations, go online to: communitycollaborations .org, crossculturalsolutions.org and alternativebreaks.org.

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Date published: 3/31/2007