COMMUNITY SERVICE
Alternative Break Connections
Alternative
Break Connections (ABC) are substance-free, community service-learning trips during the
university’s winter and spring breaks. ABC participants travel in teams to different
cities, engage in active service, and have the opportunity to gain new
perspectives on society while meeting community needs, and learning
about and building upon community assets.
Trip
Information
This year, along with Spring Break, Alternative Break
Connections will be hosting a Winter Break program. This means that
students have four exciting trips to choose from!! This years locations
will include New Orleans, Atlanta, and Miami. Each trip focuses on a
different social issue or population.
-
Disaster
Relief (New Orleans)
City Park is the 6th largest urban park in the country with 1,300
acres of land. When Hurricane Katrina hit, the park was covered with
anywhere from 1 - 8 feet of water which caused $43 million in
damages. Since the storm we have had over 16,000 volunteers come and
help in the rebuilding efforts here at the park! It is looking great
so far, but the work is far from done.
A typical work day for spring breaker's would be working from 9-noon
and then taking an hour lunch break, then starting back up and
working until 4pm. There are many different projects at the park and
it is constantly changing. You could be doing anything from clearing
the 22 miles of Shoreline we have, to painting a shelter, or pulling
weeds in the gardens. Everything volunteers do makes a huge
difference. Additionally, the group will have ample time to explore
New Orleans to find out what this city has to offer.
-
Social Justice & Urban Youth (Atlanta)-
Essential2Life
urban youth solutions
is a non-profit that
works primarily with at-risk urban children and youth and we try to
have service teams spend about half their time with children and
youth and the various services in the city that cater to them. We
also get teams involved with a wide variety of organizations that
work with other needs in the city. And finally, we make sure that
teams have some sort of educational experience each day that deals
with social justice and urban issues.
During the trip to Atlanta you will have the opportunity to work
with E2L’s kids programs, visit the Martin Luther King Historical
site to learn about the history of racial segregation in Atlanta and
the South; work with the Atlanta Community Food Bank, work at a
homeless shelter, Boys and Girls Club of Atlanta’s after school
programs, or work project with youth oriented organization. You will
also have plenty of free time to explore Atlanta and all that the
city has to offer!
Expenses
The
trip costs will include, airfare, travel (vans), accommodations, and
service project costs. Breakfast and lunch will be included. You will be
responsible for paying for your own dinner. Plan on bringing down enough
money to pay for your dinners!! Both the Atlanta and New Orleans trips
will be staying in budget hotels. The exact hotel will be announced at a
later date.
The total cost per person may range between $300 and $400. An exact
amount will be given once all travel accommodations are made.
The school will pay
for a portion of the costs and the goal is to raise the rest of the
money through group and individual fundraising activities leading up to
ASB. We already have various fundraising activities in place including
working at concession stands at several Raven's games, friends and
family letters, and Joe Corbi's pizza. If you are not willing
to participate in fundraising then you will be asked cover your own
expenses. We are optimistic that everyone will be able to
raise the full amount of money.
Fundraising
Raven's Game
Fundraiser- You have the chance
to work at the concession stands at the M&T Bank Stadium during a
Raven's Game. This is a great way to earn a fast $50 towards your ASB
trip as well as bond with other ASB group members before the trip. There
are three games planned. Come to all of them or just one!
Schedule:
Sun. Nov. 11
Sun. Nov. 18
Sat. Dec. 1
* You need to arrive 3 hours before game time.
Joe Corbi's
Pizza/Cookie Dough-
- Orders due:
Please bring your orders to the meeting on Tues., Feb. 12.
However, we will be accepting orders up until Tues., Feb.
19.
- Delivery date:
Fri., Feb. 29 (9 a.m.)
- Dough can only
be kept out of the refrigerator for 6 hours.
- Payment options
include cash or check(s) made out to Towson University.
- Joe Corbi’s
requires a minimum of 50 units sold to participate to make a
delivery date. So if we do not meet the minimum then we will have to
cancel the fundraiser.
- For every pizza
you sell, $5.75 will be added to your fundraising totals. For every
cookie dough you sell, $5 will be added to your fundraising
totals!!!
- Good luck
selling!!!
- Extra packets
will be available at the front desk of the Office of Student
Activities.
- Good luck
selling!!!
Friends & Family
Letters- A great way to
fundraise it to ask your friends and family to donate to your cause. Use
these templates provided and personalize them further. Also, it helps to
include a preaddressed, stamped envelope so it is easy to send back.
Meetings
There will be mandatory meetings leading up to both
spring and winter break trips. At these meetings, students will be given
travel updates, hotel accommodations, and other information important to
having a productive trip. This will also be a time for students to
organize fundraising events for each trip.
We will try our
best to organize meetings that are convenient for everyone, but it is
your job to make the meetings a priority. A meeting schedule will be
determined as soon as possible.
Applications
Applications may be submitted via email to Renee Gibson at
rgibso3@towson.edu or turned
into the Office of Student Activities, University Union 217.
Contact Alternative Break Connections
General Questions - Tierra Fields:
tfield1@towson.edu
Membership- Renee Gibson:
rgibso3@towson.edu
Fundraising- Steven Grisham:
sgrish1@towson.edu
Staff Facilitators
We need four more staff members to attend
Alternative Spring Break this year as Staff Facilitators. You will have
your choice of going to New Orleans or Atlanta. The trip will be from
Sat., March 15 until Fri., March 21.
This is an opportunity to interact with students in
a fun, laid back atmosphere while helping a community outside of
Maryland. You will be responsible for handling some finances while on
the trip, driving students to the volunteer sites, and helping the trip
to run smoothly.
If you are interested in this wonderful opportunity
or for more information, please contact Johanna Strokoff at
jstrok1@towson.edu.
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