Spend your break volunteering

Many CSC students look forward to their spring break as a getaway.  Whether it be jetting off to someplace warm, spending time with family or friends, or simply recharging for the next half of the semester, we all tend to make plans that involve relaxing or getting something personal accomplished.

But when disasters strike communities, it’s essential that selfless individuals come together and work to help people recover from loss and trauma. There are many ways to help impacted communities, and one idea that came up in a Student Senate meeting was an Alternative Spring Break program.

As a senator of Liberal Arts, I believe in the importance of helping people, and that as a nation we need each other.  I took the challenge upon myself, and looked into options for an alternative spring break.  After a lot of research, I set sights on helping Hurricane Sandy victims.

Last October, Mother Nature devastated the East Coast with Hurricane Sandy.   I know New Jersey might seem a long way away, but in Chadron, we are no strangers to natural disasters.

All of us have lingering memories of frightening wild fires fresh in our memories, along with the support that poured in from around the region.

But what’s important is to not shrink away from an opportunity to return some of the goodwill towards our fellow citizens on the east coast, and the first option I found is through donations.

Financial support of any amount helps rehabilitate communities and lessen the blows and socioeconomic impact that natural disasters leave on affected areas. Donations contribute to municipal building repairs and program funding for agencies serving low-income families.

Many east coast residents are still struggling with the wreckage in their home, work, and schools. Donations bring a lot of hope and relief toward sustaining people’s livelihoods in impacted communities.

But with stretched pocket books, it’s hard for many college students to juggle their finances and make a considerable contribution.

Another way to leave your mark is by donating your time. Volunteering is an act of valor, and whether it’s through labor, lending a listening ear, or giving someone a pat on the back, helping people cope with loss and trauma is a powerful deed.

The humility and encouragement of volunteering makes a difference in the lives of countless people all over the world. My suggestion is that over spring break you seek to make a difference.  As a student, I’ve committed myself to helping the East coast victims, and plan to volunteer my spring break in Newark, N.J.

I would encourage everyone to take part in an Alternate Spring Break, because it gives you an opportunity to serve a purpose, and engage in something greater than yourself.