FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Under the guidance of University Housing graduate assistant Amy Thompson and University Housing staff members Rodney and Tamra Bardwell, 24 University of Arkansas students participated in the Alternative Spring Break program sponsored by the UA University Housing department.

Students spent their spring break participating in five different community service projects sponsored by the Volunteers of America in New Orleans. University Housing is the sole sponsor of the trip, so only residence hall students are eligible.

Participants responded most favorably to their experiences in a halfway house, for veterans who are recovering addicts, and the Feed Jesus program at St. Joseph’s Church.

"It was exciting to see University Housing students step outside their comfort zone and be willing to not only help others but to learn about themselves," said Rodney Bardwell, coordinator for residential education in University Housing. "These are the kinds of students that we have at the University of Arkansas, and I am so touched to see students give up their time to help others during their spring break. To put others before themselves; that's awesome to see."

At the veterans’ home, students worked with and learned from veterans recovering from decades of alcohol and substance abuse. The veterans are committed to a recovery program and have been working to repair their lives from a matter of days to as long as three years. Students helped the veterans paint four of the houses that they live in and assisted with general upkeep and repair work.

Veterans talked to the students about their lives before and after they entered the rehabilitation program, their experiences while on various substances, the changes in their lives after they entered the program, the situations that led them to become addicted and the problems they faced. They also discussed the relative ease of obtaining substances and the ineffectiveness of efforts to eliminate drug trafficking and drug abuse over the past 30 years.

Without exception, the veterans said they are the happiest now than at any point in their lives, impressing students with their devotion, hope and plans for the future.

Every student who participated in this project was touched by the experience and learned valuable lessons — not only about substance abuse, but about life in general.

Mattie Dugwyler, a UA student who spent three days working with the veterans, said "Everyone learned a little bit about themselves and the way they handle the situations they are faced with. We took away values and lessons of hope, inspiration, and a greater appreciation for the chance to wake up to a beautiful day."

UA student Henry Wendel agreed. He said, "I went in with many expectations, all of which were exceeded. The motivation that we received from the people we met was incredible. The men we worked with were truly an inspiration."

The Feed Jesus program is run by Sister Vera of St. Joseph’s Church. It provides food, healthcare and temporary shelter for the destitute of New Orleans and assists low-income families with finding permanent housing. Sister Vera works with a volunteer network to assist the poor and homeless by providing them with food, shelter and job placement. Students helped her by preparing food and setting tables in the food kitchen and by helping her clean up areas of the surrounding community.

"I felt particularly refreshed one morning working with the Feed Jesus program at St. Joseph’s Church," said UA student Ben Austrin-Willis. "It had just begun raining, and a visibly weary and bruised woman walked to the back door of the church and asked me for help. She said she needed shelter for one night. I escorted her to the office of Sister Vera, our supervisor, telling her that it was my first day here and we could find out together what to do. She spoke with Sister Vera for about half an hour, getting encouragement and directions to a nearby shelter.

"On her way out, though she was exhausted and her feet were aching, but she made a point of coming to find me and thank me," he said. "I felt that I had done nothing, yet apparently even my small contribution was important to her. I don’t know where she is now or how she is doing, but her genuine appreciation inspired me to do more, work harder, and to make an effort to notice the importance of even the smallest of things in my life."

Ben’s story is in no way unique, other participants were deeply touched by similar experiences.

Students also volunteered at a local food bank, the VOA Mental Health Services and an assisted living facility. At the food bank, participants sorted, stored and distributed enough food, clothing and non-perishable items to feed more than 3,000 people. At Mental Health Services they assisted in general upkeep of the grounds, primarily painting and yard work, and at the assisted living facility they helped a developmentally disabled man repair and paint his house.

Participants had the opportunity to spend a large amount of time enjoying the city. They stayed at a state park just outside the city limits and participated in several organized events, including a jazz cruise on the Mississippi River, a ghost tour of the French Quarter, and trips to the Audubon Zoo, the Aquarium of the Americas and the IMAX Theater. Students were given two days and every evening of the trip to enjoy their own pursuits and compiled an impressive collection of Mardi Gras beads while thoroughly enjoying the jazz and Rhythm and Blues that New Orleans is famous for.

The essence and primary goal of the Alternative Spring Break program is to help people in need while also learning from them on a personal level.

"Volunteering is a two-way experience," UA student Vandana Ramachandran said. "I learned invaluable lessons of patience, kindness, determination and willpower from the people I worked with. Every student should take some time to go out and work in the community to learn about life in the real world."

Next year the Alternative Spring Break program would like to expand to twice its current size and allow 40 to 50 students to participate, possibly at two different sites. If you are interested in helping people from all walks of life while getting to know a diverse and interesting group of your peers, please contact Rodney Bardwell at rbardwell@teamwork.uark.edu.

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