A change of plans

Plans for Alternative Spring Break trip were cancelled due to lack of funding

Twenty students had to make last minute changes to their plans this past Spring Break.

Every year,  Georgia College students have the opportunity to participate in an alternative Spring Break —a trip of volunteering and a way to spend their spring break bettering the world in which they live. Students help re-build and rejuvenate communities. The representatives are sent to nearby regions and help rehabilitate the areas that need repairing and renovating. In the past student groups have volunteered and worked in Port Charles, Fla., Ocean Springs, Miss., Waveland, Miss. and Immokalee, Fla. Unfortunately, this past spring break, plans fell through and the trip was cancelled at the last minute.

Leading up to the ill-fated cancellation many plans were made and set. The trip was originally planned to take place from March 20 to March  24. The students were going to help at Fort Pulaski Nation Monument painting bridges, have a beach sweep with the Tybee Dog park, work with the humane society helping them clean up and play with the animals and work at America’s Second Harvest Food Pantry sorting and help them organize.

Initially the group was going to be able to stay at the YMCA and do a bit of community service for them, but at the last minute the YMCA couldn’t house them.

After Director of The GIVE Center Kendall Stiles heard about sophomore sociology and English major Lexi Kraft’s enthusiasm she asked her to head the alternative break group and they began planning in January. Kraft explains her previous enjoyment and involvement in such trips.

“I have always been really involved with trips like this one. I work for a traveling missions team over the summer and did a similar trip in December for my birthday with some of my friends,” Kraft said.

“There was a group consensus about having a trip around Milledgeville, but instead a lot of people joined up with friends and decided upon doing the traditional Spring Break, ….”

Lexi Kraft, sophomore sociology and English major and Alternative Spring Break trip leader

After hearing about the trip from his older brother, junior marketing major Daniel Morris became interested and wanted to join the team. He attended the two informational meetings and was part of the chain email concerning the last minute details and preparations along with the rest of the participants.

The Alternative Spring Break “seemed like a good way to get community service hours, to give back to the community and to help people,” Morris said.

Even though this year’s trip didn’t happen, Morris still plans on trying to go next year; this year Morris joined friends at a beach house in Edisto Island, SC as his alternative to the Alternative Break.

“There was a group consensus about having a trip around Milledgeville but instead a lot of people joined up with friends and decided upon doing the traditional Spring Break, some went home and relaxed, and others stayed in Milledgeville,” Kraft said.

The trip was drafted to cost  $100 for the four days of meals, housing and transportation. After being dropped by the YMCA they went to look for more places to stay and couldn’t find one within budget.

The student group had previously applied for additional funding from SGA, but their bill wasn’t first in line for decision.

According to senior business management major and SGA President, Zach Mullins, “the SGA makes monetary allocation decisions are based upon a first come, first serve basis,” there is no such thing as favorites. SGA is currently “trying to get one for bills that have been back-logged,” Mullins explains.

SGA recognizes the shortfall and is trying to do everything in their power to alleviate the cost and help out every group possible, unfortunately at the time they were unable to assist the alternative break team.

The GIVE Center expects to continue the trips next year so students will resume going on the Alternative Spring Break “Service by the Sea” trips.

Posted by VictoriaGarofolo on Apr 2 2011. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.