Student from Bowie Spends Break Helping Others

Instead of hitting the beach during her college spring break, Megan Laskey of Bowie opted to spend some time in a classroom and socialize with at-risk kids. Laskey attends James Madison University (JMU) in Harrisonburg, VA, and participated in the alternative spring break program on March 3–10.

Laskey was among a group of students that traveled to York, SC, to volunteer at York Place—a home and residential treatment for children and adolescents with significant emotional and behavioral impairments, according to a release from JMU.

The release states that students helped in the classrooms, cleaned up the facilities, spent time with residents, and played with at-risk kids. The alternative spring break program is an effort to give students experiences that will encourage them to be active citizens after college, according to the release.

"I'm excited for students to have this experience so we can continue to add more advocates for the people and social issues that they will encounter," said Misty Newman, assistant director of Community Service-Learning for Alternative Break Programs, in a release. "When they experience things first hand, my hope is that it will ignite in them a passion for serving and that the reflection will allow them to see how they fit into the larger global society."

What do you think of alternative spring break programs? Tell us in the comments.