Zhao Dan
MC301 Contributor/Staff Writer
While many students were lounging on the beach or visiting family and friends at home, twenty-nine Jackson State University students volunteered to focus on hunger and homelessness during spring break in Atlanta, Ga. from March 9-14, 2014.
The JSU students worked with organizations which included the Gateway Center, Atlanta Community Food Bank, Southwest Emergency Shelter and Project Open Hand, to help relieve poverty and hunger.
Each day the group provided community service to a different organization and gained hands-on experience in various projects. They also had the opportunity to hear the stories of people who used to be homeless.
“I learned things about homeless people that I didn’t know before. I learned not to judge them because they all have different reasons that put them in the situation,” said Shukundala Smith, a senior psychology major from Nashville, Tenn. “Some people are just experiencing homelessness.”
The group also packed food to be given to homeless families, working with students from the University of South Florida and members of West Hunter Street Baptist Church.
Nigel Costice, a junior finance major from Memphis, Tenn., said he enjoyed the experience and plans to continue to help people and serve the community.
“We went to the Atlanta Community Food Bank and my responsibility was to set boxes and lift them up so they could eventually
land on the trunk. Then we went to the shelter on Thursday and we actually saw the trunk be loaded from Atlanta Community Food Bank. It was like everything came full circle. I saw how one thing let another happen,” said Costice.
Working with different people and organizations gave the students an opportunity to experience ways to impact people and make a difference in their own community.
“I got a chance to understand where people come from and learn more about people in general. Not everybody becomes homeless out of their fault,” said Carissa Skinner, a senior chemistry major from Jackson, Miss. “I learned to be more considerate in my community, be more open-minded to help people and be a kind person.”
Many student volunteers said they came home with a different perspective from the volunteer experience.
Whitney Menogan, administrative assistant for the Alice V. Harden Center for Service and Community Engaged Learning was very proud of the work performance of the students.
“Every single center that we went to was impressed by the JSU students. There were about three or four other groups from different colleges or universities who came to volunteer and they had very positive things to say about Jackson State students,” said Menogan.
She added, “Each student actually had a new sense of compassion for those who are homeless and brought it back to Mississippi with them. When they see someone who is less fortunate or homeless, they will give them a helping hand because now they have learned and seen their stories by talking with those who are struggling every day.”
Students who participated in the Alternative Spring Break will receive 120 community service hours.
JSU Alternative Spring Break (YouTube VIDEO): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WFlU5g35oU
