With a combination of family, high school friends, holiday parties, work and trips at their disposal, students at Grand Valley State University have a plethora ways to spend their three weeks of winter break, but for members of one organization, that full and festive docket includes a week volunteering in a different state.

Alterative Breaks, a registered student organization at GVSU, sent out two student-led trips over the break, with more trips being planned for Spring Break. The trips focus not only on volunteering, but also reflecting on the service and understanding the underlying causes of the social or environmental issues the participants are working with.

“While I love being home, the opportunity to volunteer in such an impacting way was not something I could pass up and I have been doing it ever since,” said junior Caitlin Stoltman, AB finance chair. “On each trip it is so easy to see the ripple affect our organization has on others.”

This years’ Winter Break trips, held Jan. 1 through 7, explored Native American cultural awareness and affordable housing.

The affordable housing trip took students to Baltimore, where they worked to help build houses for families in the city’s most impoverished neighborhood and helped maintain community gardens.

The Native American cultural awareness trip traveled to Oklahoma to work directly with the Cherokee Nation. While on the trip, they also visited historical sites and saw a speaker.

“We met so many great people and learned so much just from talking to them,” said senior Mackenzie Farlie, a site leader and the AB orientation chair. “Everyone was extremely nice and welcoming and it was heartbreaking to have to leave.”

In addition to Farlie’s love of volunteering, she is also part Cherokee, adding a touch of personal interest.

Like Stoltman and Farlie, GVSU junior Abigail Carlson also expressed her appreciation for the intangible things the trips have to offer not just to her, but everyone involved.

“Being directly involved with a non-profit organization allows for us to become emotionally and physically involved in something that helps everyone who is linked to the cause, both the non-profit organization members, AB members, and the community,” Carlson said.

The cost of each individual trip is $250, which includes transportation, food and housing.

“AB is so great because it offers a variety of trips for everyone’s interest, gives me a chance to travel and helps me meet new people who are interested in a common goal: helping others,” Stoltman said.

Alternative Breaks also holds Service Saturdays throughout the semester. For more information, go to the GVSU Alternative Break website, www.gvsualternativebreaks.com.

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