A spring break trip for 10 Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) students means less time at the beach but more time helping people in need.
The students, along with SMWC’s campus minister, Tim Tesmer, are heading to Savannah, Ga., March 7-13, where they will volunteer through Catholic Charities of South Georgia, serving the area’s underprivileged in any way they can.
“The alternative break trips are important for students because they offer them the opportunity to serve the less fortunate in a context that is real, where people are not a statistic but flesh and blood humans,” said Tesmer, the trip’s organizer. “These trips provide an opportunity for bonding, team building, spiritual growth and exploration as well as the chance to visit a part of the country they have never visited. Not one of the ten students and two chaperones participating in this year’s trip has been to Savannah, Ga.”
This is the second alternative break trip for Loan Nguyen, a freshman international student and Dominican sister from Vietnam.
“My previous volunteer experience in Knoxville taught me valuable lessons about teamwork and service. When I met and helped people experiencing homelessness, even small acts of kindness showed me that sharing and support can bring them hope and joy,” she said. “I want to continue joining trips like this to contribute through meaningful actions and learn from real-world experiences. Trips like this help me better understand real life in the United States, not just through books or movies. Since my major is sociology, this trip will allow me to apply what I have learned in the classroom to real-life situations and gain a deeper understanding of social issues.”
The trip will tap into freshman Cammi VanGilder’s passion for serving others.
“Last semester, I spent time volunteering in the long-term care unit at Providence Healthcare here at The Woods. That experience strengthened my passion for those who need support,” said VanGilder, a marketing major from Terre Haute. “One Sunday morning at church, I was listening to the sermon and felt the calling to go on this alternative spring break trip. It feels more meaningful to use my spring break to serve those who are less fortunate.”