MECC Students Participate in Alternative Spring Break

Alterantive Spring Break 2020

 

Big Stone Gap, VA – Five Mountain Empire Community College students opted to spend their spring break volunteering on MECC’s second annual Alternative Spring Break trip sponsored by Student Activities.

The team traveled to Berkeley County, SC and partnered with Habitat for Humanity to work on construction of a new house for a family in need. Over the course of four days, the team worked in the ReStore retail store processing donations, put up soffit along the porch ceiling, measured and installed j channel and utility strip along the front porch, began the siding work on the front porch, and did some painting and installed shelving for the local community center.

The MECC students who participated were: Madison Childress, Cameron Cope, Zoe Falin, Amelia Strouth, and Yijia Wang. Students applied for the team during the Fall 2019 semester and were invited to participate in the service trip, which took place from March 8-13, 2020 during MECC’s Spring Break. Zoe Falin said of her experience: “Alternative Spring Break was a life-changing and eye opening experience. It taught me that giving back can be fun.” The team got to work with volunteers from Siena College and St. Louis University and learned valuable skills from the Habitat Berkeley professional construction crew.

The MECC team worked hard all week, but managed to find some time for fun activities as well. The team sampled some cuisine that many had never tried before, walked along Folly Beach, and visited a Chinese New Year lantern exhibit at the Magnolia Plantation Gardens. Cameron Cope summed up the week: “The opportunity to serve others while also learning life skills, building personal relationships, and experiencing unforgettable memories is one I’ll cherish forever.”

For more information regarding MECC’s Alternative Spring Break or other student activities, please contact Kari Paschetto, Great Expectations and Student Activities Coordinator, at 276.523.2400 ext. 422.