Students from this college form an assembly line to organize and inventory hundreds of boxes March 2014 at A Wider Circle, a nonprofit organization supplying essential housing products to those in need in Washington, D.C. File
Service-learning opportunities are expanded.
By Melissa Luna
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
The center for civic engagement is giving 20 students the opportunity to earn service-learning hours and interact with the community March 6 through 8.
Alternative Spring Break Staycation is a program where students can log service hours while enjoying spring break.
Student success Coordinator Mary Elise Ferrer has scheduled the students to volunteer at Haven for Hope, 1 Haven for Hope Way; Habitat for Humanity Home Center, 311 Probandt; and the San Antonio Children’s Museum, 305 E. Houston.
Last year, 10 students participating in alternative spring break went to Washington, D.C., where they stayed in a hostel and volunteered at various charity organizations.
“My budget doesn’t change,” Ferrer said. “This year, I’d rather pay for 20 students to participate instead of just 10.”
She has a budget of $20,000 for the academic year.
She is encouraging students to form an informal club dedicated to service learning, so they can fundraise to offset the costs of Alternative Spring Break.
Criminal justice sophomore William Fowler wishes he could volunteer more of his time to participating in the community.
“I have a lot of family and work obligations,” Fowler said. “I volunteer when I can for as long as I can.”
Ferrer said the slots for participating in this year’s alternative spring break are already full, but she still wants students to participate in other volunteer activities such as Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Day March 28.
Lunch and snacks will be provided each day.
Students will be treated to an early appreciation dinner on the last day when service is complete at around 3 p.m.
Students also can earn a Kindle tablet upon 95 percent completion of the 25 scheduled hours.
Call Ferrer at 210-486-0157 or visit her in the health promotions office in Room 150 of Loftin Student Center.
Students can find a complete list of volunteer activities at www.saccivicengagement.orgsync.com/.
