May 2002
Faith, Service, and Spring Break
Students Flock to Florida to Spend Their Time Learning
the Value of Service
By Sara
Ortega
Jacquelyn Danek has grown accustomed to the academic drills of college,
but for the first time as a GW student, she faced a seemingly insurmountable
undertaking constructing two homes in only one week. Joined by
dozens of other student volunteers, Danek substituted traditional Spring
Break libation and relaxation for an alternative celebration of the
human spirit.
Spring Break customarily invokes the image of a seven-day tropical fest
accentuating false tans and neon swimwear, but 17 undergraduates from
the Newman Catholic Student Center, including Danek, swapped the traditional
spring break revelry with roofing, siding, and landscaping. Combining
their free time and untapped technical skill, they traveled south to
Jacksonville, FL under the guidance of Father Rob Panke to join a service
program linked with Habitat for Humanity. Working alongside other volunteers
from Ohio University, Johns Hopkins University, and New England College,
as well as with local aid groups, they erected two houses over the week-long
vacation.
Human services major Shannon Tobin initiated the Universitys first
Alternative Spring Break in November 2000 while preparing a Thanksgiving
service project and celebration.
There was already a Habitat for Humanity student organization
on campus, but I thought we could use something different, Tobin
says. Most projects like ours dont involve denominational
themes, so I thought this was a good opportunity to bring faith and
service together.
The Newman Center, the headquarters for Catholic spiritual and social
support, hosts other community outreach programs throughout the year
such as Good Samaritan Ministry, St. Pauls Grate Patrol, Exodus
Youth Services, and Generation Christ.
Student volunteers needed $8,000 to subsidize the mission to Florida,
so they solicited family, friends, and University sponsors. Contributions
from personal contacts financed the majority of expenses, and the remaining
funds came from GWs Student Association, the Resident Housing
Association, the Newman Center, St. Stephens Church parishioners,
and World Bank and Pan American Health Organization employees. The Office
of Community Service donated money for bottled water and disposable
cameras.
Once arriving in Jacksonville, they surveyed the task before them. More
daunted by the substandard residential neighborhood than by their lack
of construction know-how, they unreservedly leaped into the project.
Grabbing a hammer and nails, the students rose at 7 am each morning,
worked an eight-hour day, and concluded every session with a brief Mass
at a local warehouse.
I know that a lot of us had the mentality that we needed to build
the house as if we were going to live in it, says Danek. We
wanted to make sure that everything was done perfectly, but that was
difficult having no experience in any of the tasks.
Although hesitant to measure their efforts against other professional
construction projects, a state inspectors daily approval still
signaled a job well done before the groups return home.
Some students met future home owners, including one gentleman working
with the service group to help build his future castle. His joy and
unlimited appreciation for their dedication touched the volunteers.
Many students recalled a woman on Habitat for Humanitys wait list,
the conditions of which stipulate eight hours of service on any other
Habitat project. A single woman raising four grandchildren, she too
was eager to help those confronted by challenging circumstances.
The students were wonderful, giving their precious time off during
Spring Break to help those less fortunate, says Panke. Everyone
was willing to help and there was no complaining.
This spiritual journey marks the beginning of more to come. Undecided
about returning to Jacksonville, the students promise to keep this annual
tradition alive in any city in need of their services. Its
been an amazing experience for all students involved, Tobin says.
Not only have we served others, but we have each gained a deeper
faith and commitment to helping those in need.
Send feedback to: bygeorge@gwu.edu