Nine teams of University of Idaho students traveled to five states during spring break to give back to communities through the Alternative Service Break (ASB) program.
This year, the coordinators at UI Center for Volunteerism and Social Action wanted to place a special emphasis on areas in need located close to Moscow. While some teams were sent to Washington, Pennsylvania, California and Louisiana for the trip, many teams traveled south to serve in nearby Grangeville and Boise.
Students who traveled to Washington worked with a program called L’Arche, which serves homeless persons with disabilities, ASB Coordinator Andrew Blake said.
The participants in Grangeville worked on land restoration projects, students in Boise served at a women and children’s center, California-bound participants worked on a number of issues including animal cruelty and human rights and students who traveled to Pittsburgh, Pa. and Hammond, La. worked on home renovations.
Though the program can be challenging for students, Blake said, students keep signing up because it’s a rewarding experience. Spring ASB participants were asked to write journal entries during the trip to reflect on their experiences.
Tacoma, Wash.
Charles Newbill — freshman
“Throughout this experience, although we have helped some of L’Arche, L’Arche has greatly helped us. Working on the farm and interacting with everyone has helped me find where happiness can rest. I have realized that people are people, and that we should start noticing people’s gifts (as Pat would say) people spread to the world. Working with the core members and watching them smile, make others laugh, and being happy warms my heart and brings me the ultimate joy.”
Boise, Idaho:
Lizzie Jossie — junior
“It’s been awesome getting to know the people on this team and serve the needy people in our state of Idaho. I hope we all stay close friends in the weeks to come and that each one of us continues to serve and give back to the community.”
Jessica Marboe — sophomore
“Overall, this whole trip has been life changing. I knew service needed to be done in our state, but my eyes have been forever opened to the reality and extent of service that can be accomplished right here in our own state.
To the students who were on my team and served with me in Boise: I feel so lucky to have been given the chance to be your team leader and spend this week with you. You are all extraordinary people and the friendships created will stay with me forever. I experienced so much personal growth this week and I’m glad you all were a part of that.”
Palmdale, CA:
Pilar Alfaro — junior
“The ASB trip to Palmdale was a completely new experience to me. Instead of volunteering for normal social issue organizations, we were able to work with a culture that was completely new to most of us. It was exciting to step out of our comfort zones into an environment that required hard work and motivation. The staff at Farm Sanctuary is so caring toward their animals and the passion for what they do is inspiring and admirable.”
Hammond, LA:
Garrett Stauffer — senior
“As a trip leader, I couldn’t have wished for a better group. Every single one of them could have led this trip seamlessly, and every misstep I make someone picks up after me and life carries on. I don’t know if my laissez-faire approach is the best one, but it is working well enough so far. So if I could say one thing about this trip so far it would be that this is the one group of people I have spent this much time with and am still quite happy with their company and having a great time, which given any temperament, is quite impressive.”
Brady Fuller — junior
“This ASB trip was designed for us to give back for a week, but we got so much in return. The community of Hammond was so appreciative and I can just add that Southern hospitality is real. We learned how to work together to achieve the end goal. It was a great group made up of very different, unique individuals and I wouldn’t change it for anything. The pastor at the church taught us (and we ended everything with) ‘And all God’s children said??? AMEN!'”
Amber Emery can be reached at [email protected]