Alternative Spring Break program ‘pays it forward’
Posted on February 4, 2008
Last year’s May Hurricane Katrina relief trip raised more than $6,500, and with more than enough money for their next trip, they made a $5,000 donation to the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity.
The NOAHH is one of the many agencies volunteers work with during these trips. According to Interim Assistant Director for Alternative Breaks, Heather Roberts, deciding which agency should get the donation was fairly simple.
“We work with a lot of small organizations, so their tax coverage is not as good,” Roberts said. “We know they are doing good things, but the NOAHH is the more stable agency.”
Jeremy Hawkins, the learning partner on these trips, made the phone call to the NOAHH to tell them about the donation last week.
“Basically, I said, ‘we are sending you a check with a letter telling about the donation,’ and they said, ‘OK, we’ll take it,’” Hawkins said.
There will be no formal ceremony, just an under-the-radar contribution as a show of support.
The rest of the money is going to need-based scholarships for students attending the trip in May.
“We are doing one scholarship in honor of our bus driver from JMU, Carol Miller, who died this past summer,” Roberts said. “She went out and worked with us every day, even though she didn’t have to.”
The “pay it forward” method began after the first trip to New Orleans in November 2005. Students from each trip fundraised by writing letters to family, friends and those that might be interested in donating. Last May Katrina trip students held a car wash and a Guitar Hero contest.
Although this year was the first year they have donated to agencies, Roberts said the increase in money has been steady since the beginning and hopes the funds will only continue to grow.
“I tell the participants, if every person on the trip gets five people to donate $20 then that’s $5,000 right there,” she said.
Roberts and Hawkins said the continual rise in proceeds just shows how dedicated JMU is to rebuilding New Orleans.
