Spring Break experience: tiring but rewarding

During the first week of March I had an experience that shaped my understanding of community volunteering.

I gained insight and a sense of duty through the Northern New Jersey United Way Alternative Spring Break program and a non-government organization called “The Bucket Brigade.”

Unfortunately promoting the Alternative Spring Break program didn’t attract other students from Chadron State College, but I was grateful to represent not only Nebraska, but CSC as well.

I was the only Nebraskan of 51 other students hailing from Michigan, North Carolina, Florida and Virginia. There were a total of 10 universities in attendance that week.

My volunteer duty throughout the program was in Sandy Relief projects. The projects focused on restoring the shore and renovating community homes/bungalows in Ocean County, N.J. My crew of six people collected debris, filled sink holes, and mucked houses.

Mucking consists of tearing out wall panels and drywall to remove the moldy insulation caused by flooding that would sit for weeks on end. The removal of floor titles was another part of mucking, because mold would grow underneath them.

My crew departed at 7:15 every morning and commuted about an hour and fifteen-minutes from Newark to North Ocean County. We would typically return around 6 in the evening, putting in seven to eight hours of work each day.

The hardest part of volunteering was the physical strain and fatigue. We wore respirators and jumps suits so mobility and breathing wasn’t easy, and at the end of the day I had leg cramps, tight shoulders, and a sore lower back.

The most important thing I learned through this experience was the value of sleep. I also learned the importance of hydration and stretching exercises. The Sandy Relief projects really showed me how my crew’s volunteer work helped the community through our manual labor, as well as bringing hope amidst the devastation.

I built lifelong relationships through the ASB program. I am now a supporter of the “Bucket Brigade”
and promote its volunteer’s efforts to restore the shore and community.

I was introduced to other volunteer opportunities that are coming up this summer, and I had to share my experience,  I’ve kept in contact with the dedicated volunteers I’ve met and  continue to help the survivors mitigate the impacts of Hurricane Sandy.

I would encourage you to get involved in volunteering, and find out how satisfying it is for yourself.