CLEVELAND — After months of cold weather and pandemic-related restrictions, many college students are long overdue for a change of scenery. While surf and sand are on the horizon for some, others have chosen a different route.
“I’ve long felt like I wanted to build a better connection with my Cleveland community and this spring break particularly we’re offering a Cleveland-based trip and a Cleveland-based immersion,” said Zach Milko, the alternative break leader at Baldwin Wallace University.
Milko is a senior at Baldwin Wallace University. This will be his third alternative spring break. This year, he’s the one planning the trip in March.
“We’re going to be volunteering at Edgewater and we’re going to be doing a beach cleanup. I know that we’re going to visit the rid-all farm. And we’re going to learn more about food insecurity within urban areas,” he said.
Courtesy: Baldwin Wallace University
In North Canton at Walsh University, a group of students is preparing for a mission trip over spring break.
“We’re taking a group of students to northern Mississippi. It’s called Walls, Mississippi. It’s in a northern part of the state and it’s one of the most underserved parts of, counties of, the state of Mississippi and certainly the south,” said Ben Walther, the director of campus ministry at Walsh University.
Last year’s trip was canceled because of a shortened spring break, so they’re eager to serve together again.
Courtesy: Walsh University
“Do some home visits. So I expect we’ll visit some folks in their homes. Maybe some people who just don’t have the ability to get out. I know we’ll also be doing some simple like roofing projects and maybe some wheelchair ramp building. Painting, cleaning, some things like that,” said Walther.
And anything that gives a sense of normalcy is more than welcome after years of disruption and uncertainty.
“Pre-COVID, we had a program of about 20 trips a year. Now coming out of COVID, we’re back up to about five which we’re happy with. The student interest is definitely there and we’re hoping to get back into kind of growing the program again,” said Christy Walkuski the director at the David and Frances Brain Center for Community Engagement.
Not just growing the program, but fostering friendships and camaraderie in the process.
“I’m really looking forward to the late-night discussions. The good stories and things like that,” said Milko.
