Students serve local communities with IMPACT Service Breaks
From March 2-7, University of Georgia students spent their Spring Break serving with local non-profit partners in Charleston, Asheboro, Charlotte, and Savannah.
IMPACT Service Breaks, administered by Engagement, Leadership, and Service, offers students an immersive experience living and volunteering within a new community during academic breaks. Each IMPACT Service Break trip consists of a team of 16, including two student site leaders and one UGA staff learning partner.
Sally Khweis, a fourth-year biology student and co-site leader on the Asheboro, North Carolina trip, said that working alongside fellow IMPACT volunteers is a great way for students to learn new perspectives and make new friends.
“It was truly inspiring to see our team grow from a group of strangers into a close-knit unit, all working toward the shared goal of helping families build a secure home,” said Khweis.
Each IMPACT Service Break trip addresses multiple goals from IMPACT’s mission to improve Good Health and Well-Being, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities, Life on Land, and Life Below Water.
Students on the Asheboro, N.C., trip worked to promote affordable housing. This service trip partnership began in 2000 and celebrated 25 years of working with the Randolph County Community. Local volunteers worked on preparing foundations, and the team of UGA students helped add waterproofing in the crawlspaces below the homes.
When it rained, the students worked in the Habitat for Humanity ReStore cleaning the store and sorting donations. The Randolph County community thanked the students by cooking and feeding them all of their meals and also took the students bowling.
The Charleston, S.C., trip was dedicated to animal welfare and food justice. At Hope Acres Rescue the students met and worked with rescue horses and donkeys who have been abandoned or neglected. At Sweetgrass Garden they learned about hügelkultur and organic farming, as well as how the farm supports local St. Johns Island families who cannot afford food. The students also helped set up hoop greenhouses at Sweetgrass, worked with goats, and harvested turmeric to take home.
In Charlotte, N.C., students worked on initiatives supporting educational access. At Classroom Central, the students helped teachers fulfill their orders in the free classroom supply store. This helps them offset the cost of classroom materials that teachers often cover themselves.
The Savannah, Ga., team had a mission of coastal preservation. In addition to working with oyster habitat restoration, they dedicated two days to cleaning the coastline. On their last day alone, they cleaned up 220 lbs of trash from the Tybee Beach with Fight Dirty Tybee. They spent a day learning and volunteering at the Burton 4-H Center, where they learned about the effects of microplastics on the marine environment and had the opportunity to meet turtles, snakes, and other coastal animals.
“I highly recommend this program to any student looking for a meaningful and transformative experience,” Khweis said. “It provides the opportunity to not only contribute to an important cause but also develop a sense of teamwork, leadership, and personal growth through hands-on service and community engagement. If anyone is looking for a way to grow, give back, and be part of something bigger than oneself, this program is an incredible opportunity.”
