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. Alternative Break Connections

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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