Alternative Spring Breaks 2011 Destinations

Affordable Housing:

Cranks, KY: Cranks Creek Survival Center Volunteers will work to repair homes, distribute supplies and address the needs of communities in the Appalachian Mountains.

Ft. Smith, AR: Habitat for Humanity Volunteers will work with Habitat for Humanity, an ecumenical Christian housing organization that works in partnership with people in-need to build and renovate affordable housing.

Goshen, IN: LaCasa, Inc. Volunteers will aid the United Way organization that works in the community to provide affordable housing and other human services to Goshen families in need.

Kincaid, WV: Southern Appalachian Labor School Volunteers will be working on affordable housing issues affecting West Virginia. Service will include rehabilitating homes, either major or minor construction as needed, and weatherization of homes for low-income families.

Macon, GA: Rebuilding Macon Volunteers will work with Rebuilding Macon, an affordable housing program that builds homes for the elderly, people with disabilities, low income families and families with children.

Omaha, NE: Rebuilding Together Volunteers will work with Rebuilding Together, an affordable housing program that builds homes for the elderly, people with disabilities, and low-income families with children.

Orland, ME: H.O.M.E. (Homeworkers Organized for More Employment) The organization’s motto is “first serve those who suffer most.” Volunteers will be doing the service that is needed most in the community- everything from building affordable housing, to working in soup kitchens and food banks.

Seattle, WA: Habitat for Humanity Volunteers will work with Habitat for Humanity, an ecumenical Christian housing organization that works in partnership with people in-need to build and renovate affordable housing.

Animal Rescue:

Chicago, IL: PAWS (Pets Are Worth Saving) Working alongside Chicago’s largest no-kill animal shelter, volunteers will be giving care and love to animals who are in the shelters waiting to be adopted. Responsibilities include walking, playing, grooming and feeding as well as helping with preparations for adoption fairs and other events.

New Orleans, LA: Louisiana SPCA Volunteers will aid the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, an organization created and dedicated to the rescue and aid of abandoned and homeless animals in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Children:

Greenville, SC: Central Community Ministries Working with Central Community Ministries and Hands On Greenville, volunteers will provide a variety of services through the “Paint the Town” campaign, including painting and repairing homes for low-income families, visiting local nursing homes, and working at a soup kitchen.

Killeen, TX: Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children Volunteers will work at this camp to provide children with various illnesses the opportunity to participate in the great outdoors and enjoy nature. Past volunteers have participated in building an acclamation station for the children at the retreat. (FLYING)

Louisburg, NC: Terrell Lane Middle School Volunteers will work with the staff at Terrell Lane to tutor middle school students in a variety of subjects, help coach after school sports, and create a mural for one of the school buildings.

Memphis, TN: Target House Volunteers will work with Target House, which provides housing for patients and families with long term stays at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Work will include cleaning and organizing as well as recreational activities with the residents.

Natchez, MS: Natchez Children’s Home Volunteers will help at the Natchez Children’s Home, a center that provides a safe environment for abused and neglected children, by participating in activities such as cleaning, play therapy with the children, reading to children and being read to by children.

Disabilities:

Nashville, TN: United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee Volunteers will work with UCP Nashville, an organization aiming to advance the citizenship and full independence of people with disabilities, to install wheelchair ramps on homes around the city. Pittsburgh, PA: Pace School Volunteers will work with a school that provides special education and programs for children with special needs. They will work with the children on-site as well as helping with any other administrative or maintenance needs of the school.

Springfield, MO: Champion Athletes of the Ozarks Volunteers will be assisting this organization, which allows children and adults with disabilities to participate in sports competition and new opportunities that usually are not accessible for them, while teaching self-confidence and social skills.

Stone Mountain, GA: Friends of Disabled Adults and Children Working with FODAC, volunteers will help build wheelchair ramps for people with disabilities, rebuild wheelchairs, and work on assisted living home modifications.

Environment:

Cumberland Island, GA: Cumberland Island National Seashore Volunteers will learn about the unique ecosystem of Cumberland Island while participating in variety of environmental activities including seashore cleanup, trail maintenance, invasive species removal, and habitat restoration. (CAMPING)

Harper’s Ferry, WV: Harper’s Ferry National Park Volunteers will be working with park services on different environmental projects including mulching trails and trail maintenance, painting, washing windows, picking up litter and weeding gardens.

Hobe Sound, FL: Blowing Rocks Preserve Working in conjunction with the Nature Conservancy, volunteers will help protect a variety of natural habitats including beach dune, coastal strand, mangrove wetlands, tropical hammock, and oak hammock. (CAMPING)

Horse Cave, KY: American Cave Conservation Volunteers will be working on cave rehabilitating and remediation, improving the quality of the cave environment, and removing garbage and litter from the waste drain. Volunteers will also aid in projects for those who are providing accommodation for the week of Spring Break.

Lake Metroparks, Ohio: Lake Metroparks Volunteers will be working on a number of different environmental projects for Lake Metroparks, depending on the weather during the week of Spring Break. It could be a lot of environmental clean-up and removal of invasive species or if it’s snowing working in the Wildlife Center.

Marathon, FL: The Nature Conservancy Working with the Nature Conservancy and Curry Hammock State Park, volunteers will help remove invasive species and restore native species in one of the most biologically diverse spots in the United States. (CAMPING)

HIV/AIDS Awareness:

Atlanta, GA: Project Open Hand Volunteers will be working in the kitchen at Project Open Hand preparing food and packaging meals for those suffering from chronic illnesses, as well as driving delivery routes around Atlanta.

Chicago, IL: Vital Bridges Addressing the needs of the HIV/AIDS –affected community in the Greater Chicago area, volunteers will help with food packaging and distribution to those in need of meal assistance and generally assist the Vital Bridges organization.

San Juan, Puerto Rico: Iniciativa Comunitaria Volunteers will be working with this umbrella organization in Puerto Rico helping to educate the San Juan community on the importance of safe living habits. Volunteers will also be working with many aspects of the organization such as HIV/AIDS awareness, homelessness and housing, Drug awareness, and gender issues. (FLYING)

Washington, D.C.: Food and Friends Volunteers will prepare, package and deliver meals and groceries to people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses throughout the greater Washington, D.C. area, which has the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS in the country.

Human Rights:

Atlanta, GA: The International Rescue Committee Volunteers will work with refugee and immigrant populations in Atlanta. Potential projects include tutoring young students, helping set up new apartments, and general support at the IRC office.

Hunger:

Bronx, NY: POTS (Part of the Solution) Volunteers will be working to serve all who are hungry in the surrounding community, as well as offer a comfortable and welcoming environment to those who come to eat there. There will be a number of jobs working in the kitchen and the dining room.

Missoula, MT: Montana Food Bank Network Volunteers will be assisting in the distribution warehouse at the network and doing whatever tasks are needed. They will also be volunteering with their partner organizations such as soup kitchens and food banks in the Missoula area. Philadelphia, PA: Philabundance Volunteers will aid employees in the warehouse as well as in the preparation and delivery of fresh produce to be delivered to marginalized people throughout Philadelphia. Volunteers will also help pack food parcels that will assist those who need it.

LGBT:

Des Moines, IA: Homeless and Runaway Street Outreach Center Volunteers will assist in organization of events for LGBT youth that have left or been kicked out of their homes. Volunteers will also work with other homeless services in the Des Moines area to round out their service during the week of ASB.

Detroit, MI: Triangle Foundation/ Ruth Ellis Volunteers will help to organize and coordinate events and advocate for the rights of those bullied at school because of their sexual orientation. Volunteers will work to connect various LGBT groups and give them a sense of empowerment in their community.

Native American:

Flagstaff, AZ: Grand Canyon Trust Volunteers will be camping on a Native American Reservation at the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. They will be going out to different parts of the reservation throughout the week to perform upkeep and general maintenance. (CAMPING)