A common stereotype involving college students is that any chance to party and participate in decadent behavior will be embraced with open arms, especially over spring break. Movies like Where the Boys Are or Spring Break have been exploiting that stereotype for decades. Fortunately, the majority of college students are the exact opposite of those depicted on the big screen. In fact, many young people spend their spring breaks not on a beach, but involved in service projects around the country.
Recently, seven students from the University of Kansas spent a week in Felton, MN at Riding on Angels’ Wings, a nonprofit organization that offers therapeutic horseback riding for persons with developmental disabilities. The trip was organized by Break Away: The Alternative Break Connection, whose mission is to train, assist, and connect campuses and communities in promoting quality alternative break programs that inspire lifelong active citizenship. Break Away currently has a network of over 100 chapter schools, more than 400 nonprofit partners, and hundreds of individual members worldwide. As part of the “national alternative break movement,” Break Away works with the kind of college students that are reversing decade-old stereotypes.
McKenzie May was one of the site leaders for the Kansas group that visited Riding on Angels’ Wings. “My time at ROAW is something I hold very close to my heart,” May said. “The staff, the riders, the other volunteers, and the horses made it an experience unlike any other.” The staff at ROAW is very thankful for the help and support of the Kansas students. “They were a great blessing to ROAW and worked hard each day they were there,” remarked Executive Director Bette Shipley, adding an equal appreciation for all the volunteers that have passed through their doors. “Volunteers are the lifeline of our organization.”
McKenzie is a fervent supporter of volunteerism, believing the experience can change the lives of everyone involved. “Volunteering at ROAW opened my eyes to a world that I limited knowledge on,” May remarked, adding that she feels the experience helped her more than she helped ROAW. She also offered a word of advice for anyone given the opportunity to share their time and talents to others. “Taking the time to do something selfless for another is a rewarding and insightful experience,” May began. “If you are ever given the chance to volunteer, take it. It will become a part of your life that you won’t ever forget.”
While the Kansas students were visiting Minnesota, a group of students from Minnesota State University Moorhead were traveling south as part of Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge. Each year, college students are challenged to spend their spring break volunteering at various locations around the United States building houses for needy families. Nicki Olson has been a part of MSUM’s Habitat chapter for two years, working on houses both at a local and national level. “The idea of making a difference in the world has and always will drive me,” she said. “Being able to help others is a great feeling and knowing you’ve made someone’s day possibly better and their life easier is always fulfilling.” Olson understands the misconceptions that segments of society have regarding her generation. “Some think we are ignorant of what is going on in our community and do not care,” she said. “I think young people are just as driven as everyone else to leave their mark on the world.”
Circle K is another organization at MSUM that is made up of students wanting to make a difference in their community. Sponsored by the Moorhead Kiwanis Organization, Circle K has been involved in activities like working with the Dorothy Day Food Pantry and Homeless Shelter, setting up spring cleaning activities for local neighborhoods, and assisting with area blood drives. President Nicole Jasperson has been a part of MSUM’s chapter for two years. “Volunteerism appeals to me because I know if I was in a situation of need I would hope someone would be there to lend a hand,” she said. “Our organization gets a lot of joy accomplishing tasks for people in our community who are in need.”
The spirit of volunteerism is alive and well across the Red River as well. The Lions Club at North Dakota State University is comprised of 73 students working together to make a difference on a local, national, and international level. Jade Monroe is a junior at NDSU and the President of the school’s chapter. She explained her motivation for being part of a service organization. “Altruism, the practice of selfless concern for the well-being of others,” Monroe began, “has been proven to have benefits for your personal well-being and the well-being of others. When it comes to volunteering, I know that my time is being well spent, because I’m benefiting myself and those around me.” The Lions Club at NDSU has been involved in activities such as collecting canned goods and eye glasses, raising funds for “Walk for Vision,” sand bagging, and assisting the Family Life Thrift Center.
Monroe echoed May’s sentiments regarding volunteering. “I would encourage readers to go ahead and get involved in helping out their community,” she said. “Regardless of the size of the effort, big or small, cumulatively we can make a difference.”
Steven Schalau is the President of Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed service organization at NDSU. “I became involved with Alpha Phi Omega because I was looking for a group that would offer me a chance to be of service to my community,” Schalau said. “Through the organization, I have worked on a variety of projects, including helping with sandbagging efforts as well as helping out with HERO (Healthcare Equipment Recycling Organization).” Schalau believes a common misconception regarding volunteering is that is takes too much time, an assumption he would like to see people challenge. “All it takes is an hour or two and an interest in improving your community,” he began. “There are 168 hours in a week, and all it takes is one of those hours to help your community and yourself.”
The spirit of volunteerism has been a staple of society since the early pioneers banded together to form a new world. The colonists needed to rely on each other for survival, and that attitude of togetherness became the foundation for society’s philanthropic pursuits. The earliest documented volunteer group within the United States occurred when Benjamin Franklin assembled the nation’s first volunteer fire company in 1736. Comprised of thirty men, the Union Fire Company became the example for thousands of subsequent volunteer fire companies.
Overall, in North Dakota in 2011:
30.6% of residents volunteered, ranking ND 16th among the 50 states and Washington, DC.
27.2 volunteer hours per resident who volunteered.
71.9% of state residents report doing favors for their neighbors.
158,280 total volunteers.
14.1 million hours of service.
$19.18 value of volunteer time per hour.
• $306.4 million worth of service contributed.
Overall, in Minnesota in 2011:
38.0% of residents volunteer, ranking MN 4th among the 50 states and Washington, DC.
41.5 volunteer hours per resident who volunteered
71.3% do favors for their neighbors.
1.58 million total volunteers.
171.8 million hours of service.
$21.91 value of volunteer time per hour.
• $3.7 billion worth of service contributed.
The spirit of volunteerism is indeed alive and well in the Red River Valley. People of all ages are proving that even the smallest time and talent commitment can make a huge difference in the lives of those in need. Those interested in volunteering within the Red River Valley can contact FirstLink, whose mission is to “assist people in identifying, accessing, and making effective use of community and volunteer resources.” FirstLink is a private, nonprofit human service agency that began with the incorporation of the Volunteers for Community Service in 1967 and the incorporation of Hotline in 1971. Its goal is to “be the first link in linking people and resources 24 hours a day.” A valuable resource for organizations and individuals alike, FirstLink can be reached at www.myfirstlink.org or by calling 2-1-1 or 701-293-6462.