SVSU students inspired to serve during Alternative Breaks across the country; Commerce Township native among participants

2018 Mar 6

For more than 50 Saginaw Valley State University students, spring break will not be a typical vacation. They will be traveling across the U.S. to volunteer as part of the student-run Alternative Breaks program.

Five teams of students are traveling to volunteer for community organizations throughout the country during SVSU's spring break March 5-11.

Christine Vailliencourt, of Commerce Township, is among the student participants. Vailliencourt will work with Arkansas Children's Hospital, located in Little Rock, Arkansas. SVSU students will assist with daily activities needed throughout the hospital.

Vailliencourt is a student in SVSU's Exercise Science academic program.

The complete lineup of Alternative Breaks programs includes the following:

• Champion Athletes of the Ozarks, located in Springfield, Missouri. The organization is designed to help children and adults with special needs. SVSU students are helping with daily activities.
• Appalachian South Folklife Center, located in Pipestem, West Virginia. SVSU students are helping perform housing repairs along with other community service projects.
• Arkansas Children's Hospital, located in Little Rock, Arkansas. SVSU students are assisting with daily activities needed throughout the hospital.
• Kingdom House, located in St. Louis, Missouri. SVSU students are assisting in after-school programs where children eat healthy meals and focus on their academics.
• Chesapeake Bay Foundation, located in Annapolis, Maryland. SVSU students are helping to keep the Chesapeake Bay clean and educate others about the importance of keeping such natural resources safe.

SVSU's Alternative Breaks program sends students on community engagement-geared trips during both the traditional college winter and spring breaks each December and March. You can learn more at www.svsu.edu/officeofstudentlife/serve/.