FAU's 5th Annual Alternative Spring Break, H.O.O.T. 2011: Tallahassee, FL

FAU's 5th Annual Alternative Spring Break, Helping Out Our Town (HOOT) 2011: Tallahassee, FL

FAU's Weppner Center for Civic Engagement and Service sponsored the 5th Alternative Spring Break trip, "HOOT 2011: Tallahassee, FL" where 23 Florida Atlantic University students devoted their Spring Break with service projects focused on homelessness in Tallahassee, FL.

During the group's first service stop at The Shelter of Tallahassee-Leon County they met a local chapter of the National Coalition for the Homeless Speakers Bureau. After hearing compelling stories from people experiencing homelessness and learning about the services and mission of The Shelter, the students spent the afternoon sorting clothing donations and cleaning up the non-profit's grounds and facilities.

The next service stop gave students the opportunity to be kids again while playing with the children of Big Bend Homeless Coalition's H.O.P.E. Community, an organization that offers case management and social services to adults and families transitioning into permanent housing. At the H.O.P.E Community, FAU students prepared and served dinner, organized and distributed donations and cleaned up the grounds surrounding the community.

The last service activity took place at Grace Mission Episcopal Church, an organization that is committed to offering local under-privileged children a safe place to learn and grow. The students prepped the facility for a fresh coat of paint and organized the Accelerated Reading books for Grace Mission's after-school and tutoring programs.

In between service activities, students toured our sister University, Florida State University, as a means to understanding the traditions that are now shaping FAU and how they as students are a part in making that happen; they learned about AmeriCorps VISTA and it's benefits along with scholarship opportunities from Florida Campus Compact, a compact of Florida Colleges and Universities in which FAU is a member to advance academic service-learning and civic engagement in Florida; and last, they participated in "The Challenge of Civility" Challenge Course on FSU's Reservation where they learned about individual differences and the respect needed to promote ethical conduct to develop a new understanding of the dignity and worth of each person.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• FAU's
• Weppner
• Center
• for
• Civic
• Engagement
• and
• Service
• Florida Atlantic University
• Grace Mission Episcopal Church
• Big Bend Homeless Coalition
• homeless Shelter
• Alternative Spring Break