By KELLY URBAN
JOHNSTOWN — For many college students spring break means heading to the beach with friends and soaking up rays, but some students at Pitt-Johnstown would rather spend their time in a more constructive way.
As part of the university’s Alternative Spring Break Program, 100 students and 11 advisers will roll up their sleeves and head off to different parts of the country as a volunteer with the school’s Habitat for Humanity chapter.
Bryan Valentine, UPJ’s director of student life, said the students will leave March 6 and go to either Albany, Ga.; Mobile, Ala.; Ocala, Fla.; or Walton County, Fla. to build homes for families in need.
“They will be on the work site from Monday, March 8, through Friday, March 12, and work seven to eight hours a day and build from the slab up,” he said. “There really isn’t a lot of down time.”
When students sign up to volunteer they don’t know which location they will be assigned to.
“We tell them we need this number of people at this location and this amount at another because we want students to sign up for the right reasons and not just as a way to get a trip to a beach in Florida,” Valentine said.
Once on location, students are housed for the week in community, church or recreation centers.
“It’s basic housing, but we have a great deal of fun after a hard day of work,” Valentine said.
The school’s chapter was recognized by Habitat for Humanity International in early 2008, and participation has been on the increase since.
This year, Habitat for Humanity’s Alternative Spring Break Collegiate Challenge ranked UPJ in the top 10 of participating colleges and universities.
“Our goal was to have
125 participants by our fourth year, and we are ahead of where we wanted to be for our third year, so it’s just amazing to see these students give up their spring break to serve others,” he said. “When I spoke to International they told me the schools that particate in the challenge send an average of 21 people, so we far exceed the national average.”
Valentine believes the reason UPJ has its high ranking is because they fully embrace the idea of community service.
“These students are willing to give of their time and share their resources and knowledge, and they have an opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life,” he said. “They love to meet the families so they can put a face to the people they are helping. It makes it more real.”
