ALTERNATIVE BREAKS

 

WINTER BREAK LOGISTICS

When: Last Week of Winter Break (within the dates of January 11-19)

Where: Location depends on which organization you work with.

Education: Alternative Breaks provides a service-learning component that offers guest speakers and activities in person. This component is a supplement to the volunteering that you will be doing. The education component will begin on October 30th and will continue with weekly lessons throughout the month of November (and the first week of December, no lesson over Thanksgiving break).

Cost: Travel site participation is $275. This covers the cost of travel, housing, and food for the duration of the break. Scholarships are available from several sources including the Alternative Breaks Scholarship Fund. The majority of AB participants receive a scholarship for all or part of the cost of the break. More information will be given at the first class in October.


WINTER 2024-2025 SITES

FOOD ACCESSIBILITY @ OPEN ARMS | MINNEAPOLIS, MN —

Open Arms of Minnesota is a nonprofit organization that prepares and delivers nourishing meals free of charge to critically ill Minnesotans and their loved ones. By providing food as medicine, they seek to nourish and build community. They create an inclusive and joyful community to provide high-quality medically tailored meals, nutrition education, and hope to their community.

ANIMAL REHABILITATION @ MISSION: WOLF | WESTCLIFFE, CO —

Mission: Wolf is a solar-powered nature center that provides a sanctuary for unwanted captive-born wolves and horses. They offer experiential education to inspire the public to become stewards of the earth.  Since 1988 they have provided lifelong care for over 125 wolves, facilitated experiential wolf education with over 1 million people, and preserved 350 acres of pristine subalpine habitat.

— COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT @ HOPE Center | Edmond, OK—

HOPE Center has been providing assistance to members of the Edmond community since 1984. Their name is their mission– Helping Our People in Emergencies. Their mission is to meet the basic needs of the people in the community.

LOCAL SITES (depends on participants PREFERENCES)

The Lawrence Community Shelter offers a low-barrier shelter program that provides temporary emergency shelter for up to 125 individuals nightly and housing case management services for 25 individuals. Their philosophy is to protect the rights of individuals experiencing homelessness, embrace Housing First principles, acknowledge institutional racism, underscore the need for trauma-informed care, and pursue evidence-based solutions. Their vision for the future is to reduce chronic homelessness in Lawrence and throughout Douglas County.

The Community Children’s Center has served Douglas County since 1965, bridging the gap in available, accessible, and affordable high-quality early childhood care for kids 0-5 in our community. They provide education, support, advocacy, and programs to build stronger families and promote family and workplace health in Lawrence.