A more rewarding spring break

As an intern for Habitat for Humanity over the summer, Andrea Branum heard the story of a woman thrown from her trailer as a tornado swept through Evansville, Ind., in 2005. The trailer was lifted off the ground, and the woman's daughter found her sprawled on the ground yards away. In the hospital, the woman was given a 1 percent chance of surviving, and 118 units of blood were pumped into her body.

The tornado killed 22 people, and hundreds of others were injured or lost their homes.

The town is recovering slowly. Branum, a construction major at Southeast Missouri State University, helped build replacement homes, including one for the woman near death. She moved into her new home in November.

Over spring break Branum, along with 17 students and two advisers, will return to Evansville, opting not to spend the break relaxing or partying. Instead, the group will sweat, sleep on the floor of a church, and help construct homes from the ground up.

"It's far more rewarding than just taking a week off, knowing that you have changed someone's life by helping them," Branum said.

Evansville, Ind., trip leader Leslie D. Barger, bottom, collected papers during an Alternative Spring Break meeting Monday at Southeast Missouri State University. Two dozen people will volunteer the spring break week and work on particular projects, such as a Habitat for Humanity house in Evansville. (Kit Doyle)

Another group of 20 students and advisers will drive nine hours to the West Virginia coal-mining town of Caretta, population 300. Working with the not-for-profit service group Big Creek People in Action, students will complete projects varying from installing insulation to possibly building a barn.

Spring break volunteerism is not a new concept. But at Southeast, the idea of organized holiday service trips is taking off. Two years ago, six students completed work in North Carolina. Last year 17 students rebuilt houses destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in Greensboro, Ala. This year, 40 students and advisers are participating in the "Alternative Spring Break" concept.

Various organizations across the country sponsor such trips, including MTV, the United Way, Habitat for Humanity and the Student Conservation Association. Habitat for Humanity has 12,000 students participating in its Collegiate Challenge volunteer program this year.

"The students are excited. I know some of them are a little nervous about experiencing something new," said Kerry Wallaert, an adviser for the Caretta trip.

Ashleigh Day, a junior, acknowledges the trip to West Virginia will be a culture shock for some. Students won't have cell phone service, and the nearest major grocery store will be an hour and a half away. The county is the fifth-poorest in the nation, Wallaert said. For fun after work, the students will have two options: bowling or a bluegrass hall.

"I've never been on a mountain. I don't have construction experience. But I enjoy doing mission work," Day said.

Heather Hayes, a sophomore, experienced a sharp learning curve when she went to Greensboro last year. "I learned how to use a drill gun. I was afraid of power tools before then. And I learned how to hang drywall," she said.

Both groups will have an opportunity to socialize with the people they are helping. Habitat for Humanity requires those receiving homes to put in 200 hours of "sweat equity," Branum said.

"Families are very active in the building process. That's a big aspect of the trip and why we chose to go to Evansville," she said.

Often the families are the ones directing inexperienced volunteers, Wallaert said. Students work a full eight-hour day, often starting as the sun is rising. Branum said the Evansville group could be working on as many as 10 houses at various stages of development.

"There are just incredible stories of survival. There are people that lost everything, yet they are able to say, 'Those were just things. At least I still have my life,'" Branum said.

The groups are raising money for project supplies through a fundraising dinner Feb. 22 at Port Cape, five of which goes to the students. The dinner includes a barbecue sandwich, coleslaw, a potato and a dinner roll. Two time slots are available: 5 to 6:30 p.m. and 7 to 8:30 p.m. Call Residence Life at 651-2274 for tickets.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123