UA Students Volunteer for Alternative Spring Break

Akron, Ohio, March 10, 2008 — For the third year, University of Akron students, faculty and staff are going to the Gulf Coast for spring break, not to hit the beaches, but to help victims of Hurricane Katrina rebuild their homes and their lives.

The group's 55 members board a motor coach at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 15 to rebuild homes in Houma, La., southwest of New Orleans.

“Our volunteers' skills vary, but all are excited about building walls, installing drywall, putting down floors and roofing,” says Ron McDonald, director of leadership development and special projects in UA's Student Life department.

The group, which is working with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), includes students in UA's International Emergency Management and Construction Engineering Technology (CET) programs; Brian Ballou, CET associate professor; and student Ken Klouda, a certified emergency medical technician.

Volunteers will live in a PDA-managed “village” of air-conditioned polypropylene pods, each accommodating two people. UA will work with two other colleges; the total group will number 77. “This will be like a camping trip for the volunteers,” says McDonald. Amenities include cots, portable toilets, kitchen, showers and sinks.

PDA supplies meals; some are provided by the Houma community. “We'll also have a pizza night or a barbecue, a swamp boat ride, and an evening in New Orleans,” McDonald says. “Because of generous donations from campus and community businesses and from students, faculty, staff and community members, the cost of the trip is $160 per person.” Some students lined up their own sponsors.

Sponsors include the Oelschlager Leadership Institute, Society for Students in Construction and the Dorothy Hassenflue Stein Endowed Scholarship Fund. Additional funds were raised at the annual Hearts for Humanity dinner-dance and silent auction sponsored by UA's office of the provost.

Volunteers have attended an orientation session to discuss packing, transportation, spending money, project details and worksite and personal safety.

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