Community Outreach

 

Alternative Spring Break 2012

OCO offered four trips during the 2012 Spring Break. Participants explored sustanability issues in Charleston, South Carolina, health and health care issues in Boston, Native American issues in Cherokee, North Carolina and children's issues in Kissimmee, Florida.

The Boston group served at several sites including the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program (BHCHP), the International Medical Equipment Collaborative (IMEC), the AIDS Action Committee (AAC), and Ethos Senior Assisted Living. At BHCHP, the group served at the Barbara McInnis House, a medical respite facility for homeless men and women who are too sick to be in shelters or on the streets, but not sick enough to be hospitalized. They led patient activities including recreation, arts and crafts, board and video games. At IMEC, the group sorted and packaged medical supplies to be shipped globally. They also created emergency room packages. The group was scheduled to work at AAC’s second largest fundraiser, Taste of the South End.” Prior to their arrival in Boston, another large volunteer group canceled so the BW group was asked to work the entire event for over 12 hours. They set up, worked the event, and cleaned up. The event raised over $100,000 and the BW students were a big part of its success. BW students performed various manual labor activities for the older adults at the Ethos Senior Assistant Living. The group attended an educational seminar on HIV/AIDS at the Community Research Initiative of New England. Housing for the group was provided by University Lutheran Church.

The North Carolina group traveled to Cherokee to share in Native American culture while serving. The group did a variety of physical tasks as well as worked directly with children. This was the 3rd BW ASB trip to Cherokee.
 
This was the second BW group to travel to Kissimmee, Florida to serve at Give Kids the World Village (GKTW). GKTW exists to fulfill the wishes of all children with life-threatening illnesses and families from around the world to experience a memorable, joyful, cost-free visit to the Central Florida attractions. The group did a variety of service activities including serving food at the Gingerbread House, delivering pizza to the villas on golf carts, working the carousel and helping a child find their star in the star tower.  The best part of the trip for everyone was the time they spent with the children.  The group stayed at the Orlando Union Rescue Mission where they also volunteered by sorting donations, helping at their bargain store and interacting with the children in their nursery.
Sustainability and environmental issues was the focus of the trip that traveled to Charleston, South Carolina. The trip included both service and educational activities. The group worked with the Keep North Charleston Beautiful organization at three different cleanup sites. The trip included many tours such as a recycling center, a landfill, a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) platinum building (Half-Moon Outfitters Corporate Headquarters) a LEED certified elementary school and a private island that promotes sustainability. Additional service was done on an organic farm.
 
 
 

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