College Spring Break Service Trips: Volunteering Shown to Be Important to Many Students

If you are interested in getting involved in your community and making a difference in the lives of others, then the VISION Project is just for you.

VISION is an acronym for Volunteers Incorporating Service into Our Neighborhoods. This project gives students the opportunity to become actively involved in their community by taking part in a variety of programs that are offered through EMU.

Students who had the opportunity to attend the VISION meeting Sept. 21 in Guild Hall of McKenny Union appeared to be positive and enthusiastic about the possibilities of community service.

"I heard about the VISION Project during freshman orientation," said Angelina Hamilton, a political science major.

She said she enjoys volunteering her time to community service whenever she can. Hamilton said she can see herself being active in community service during her college years at Eastern.

The program that Hamilton found to be very interesting was the Alternative Spring Break progarm.

The Alternative Spring Break program gives students a chance to spend their spring break performing service throughout the country.

"I enjoy traveling and I will have a chance to do something that I enjoy and love while helping others," said Hamilton.

There are nine different programs available through the VISION office that college students can actively choose from. These include Best Buddies, Students Against Hunger and Homelessness (SAHAH), Kid Connection and Americorps.

This year, the VISION office has developed two new programs: Alternative Weekend and Project Serve 2000. Alternative Weekend is a program where students have the opportunity to perform service in the community for the entire weekend.

"Over the weekend you have the opportunity to go some place within the area to perform service and meet with other people," said Katie Holdgreve, VISION coordinator for Campus Life.

Project Serve 2000 is a new pilot program that is similar to the Alternative Weekend and Alternative Spring Break programs. The only difference is this service takes place over New Year's.