Bryan College student volunteers Alex Lyttleton, front, Amy Buchmeyer, Starla Bivins, Hannah Mileur and Adam Parker, from left, work on landscaping as they and other students perform community service projects at Rhea County High School in Evensville, Tenn., on Thursday. Some college students are using their spring breaks for service projects rather than beach trips.Bryan College student Kristyn Proctor said it’s been her habit to go home and chill out during spring break. This year, however, she joined a spring break service team.
“I’m a senior, and this was my last year to do it. I wanted to see what it was about and if I could make an impact,” said the 21-year-old.
Proctor is among the growing number of college students opting to forgo the beach for inner-city locales across North, Central or South America as they spend their spring breaks in service-oriented projects.
Earlier this month, four men from Lee University gave 44 hours of their spring break helping clear tornado debris. Armed with chainsaws, they walked from home to home offering their assistance in Cleveland, Tenn.
According to the nonprofit Independent Sector, the estimated value of one hour of volunteer time is $21.36. The 176 hours donated by just those four men was the equivalent of $3,759.36 in service to their neighbors.