UMW Students Trade Textbooks for Tool Belts Over Spring Break

University of Mary Washington students swapped their textbooks and schoolwork for hammers, nails and paintbrushes this spring break, heading to Goose Creek, South Carolina.

The UMW Alternative Service Break (ASB) trip was part of Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge, which calls on college students nationwide to volunteer over spring break to support the non-profit’s mission to build, rehabilitate and repair homes in local communities and around the world.

Packed with activities aimed at improving substandard housing and aiding impoverished areas, the week-long trip began with work at the Habitat ReStore donation center and ended with handing a set of keys to a new homeowner.

“These students have heart, and we need more of that in the world,” said Lindsey Coates-Crawford ’18, public programs coordinator for UMW’s James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library, who served as trip advisor. “Their level of commitment and love for the cause was inspiring. When work was suspended one day due to severe weather, they were genuinely disappointed they couldn’t continue. I know this week will stick with us forever.”

UMW students spent spring break in South Carolina for spring break volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.

The ASB was part of Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge, calling on college students nationwide to volunteer to help built and repair homes.

Students performed construction tasks, like flooring, siding installation, trim and finish work, painting and landscaping.

The student’s work supports the non-profit’s mission to build, rehabilitate and repair homes in local communities and around the world.

The Mary Wash team organized and managed donations to the “ReStore,” which collects and sells furniture, appliances, home goods and building materials to benefit the Habitat for Humanity mission.

The Mary Wash team of eight students organized and managed donations to the “ReStore,” which collects and sells furniture, appliances, home goods and building materials to benefit the Habitat for Humanity mission. The rest of the week they were onsite at Hutchinson Lane Homes, a housing initiative for families in need of safe, affordable spaces. The group performed construction tasks, like flooring, siding installation, trim and finish work, painting and landscaping.

Sophomores Veda Salazar and Faye McKenzie – trip leaders who played a key role in bringing the trip to fruition – selected the location, organized weekly meetings leading up to the trip and handled logistics, such as meals and transportation.

First-year student Ian Frazier reflected on the dedication ceremony that students attended at the completion of the new home they helped build. “It was really cool to see the entire community turn out to support and congratulate the new homeowner,” he said. “You could see how happy and proud she was to finally get her house, and it was great we could help a little with that.”

UMW students, like Aloysious Kabonge on the ladder, were onsite performing construction tasks at a housing initiative for families in need of safe, affordable spaces.

The UMW team poses with a new homeowner and Habitat for Humanity representatives in front of the house they helped build. (L-R: a Habitat for Humanity rep, Veda Salazar, Ian Frazier, Aloysious Kabonge, Chloe Jones, Paris Jones, the new homeowner, Walter Parks, Lindsey Coates-Crawford, Alton Guinn, Faye McKenzie, and Habitat Volunteer Coordinator April Elswick).

The UMW students enjoyed the weeks worth of work with UMW Trip advisor Lindsey Crawford saying “Their level of commitment and love for the cause was inspiring!”

According to Coates-Crawford, who participated in ASB trips as a UMW student, the home dedication ceremony was one of the highlights of the trip. “After attending many of these trips during various stages of the home construction process, it was an honor to get to witness such a meaningful event,” she said.

Alternative Service Breaks at Mary Washington are organized through the University’s Center for Community Engagement which supports civic needs through an active exchange of service and learning.

“On trips like this, students not only gain practical skills, but they help and learn about people in need,” Center for Community Engagement Director Sarah Dewees said. “It’s a transformative experience for all involved.”

For more information about Alternative Service Breaks and community service at Mary Washington, visit the Center for Community Engagement or ASB webpages.