SUNY New Paltz Alternative Spring Break

Thank you to the 14 SUNY New Paltz students who teamed up for an Alternative Spring Break! The students volunteered with 7 different organizations, providing over 700 hours of volunteer service to the local community. photo: Erica Wagner

For photos from Alternative Spring Break, please visit
https://asbnewpaltz.wordpress.com/2014/10/28/alternative-spring-break-2014-photos/

The State University of New York at New Paltz hosted its fourth annual Alternative Spring Break (ASB) Program from March 14 through 20, 2014. Fourteen students, including one student from ASB 2013 returning as a Peer Mentor, were chosen from a pool of applicants to participate in leadership activities and to volunteer with seven different organizations during their break. In total, the group completed 700 hours of leadership and volunteer activities in the Mid-Hudson Valley community.

Service

The students held a donation drive at Stop & Shop in New Paltz to collect donations People’s Place Food Pantry in Kingston, NY and Rondout Valley Animals for Adoption in Accord, NY. In three hours, the students collected 359 items and $318.36. In addition to these collections, the group also volunteered at People’s Place, Rondout Valley Animals for Adoption, The Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie, Scenic Hudson, Habitat for Humanity in Newburgh, and made therapy dolls for the Medical University of South Carolina Children’s Hospital.

Diversity

The Alternative Spring Break participants ranged in age from 18 to 21, included three males and eleven females, first year, sophomore, and junior class years were represented. Four of our five schools were represented including students majoring in Biology, Communication Disorders, Psychology, Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Sociology, Adolescence Education, Communications, English, and Digital Media Production.

Mission Statement

Alternative Spring Break Mission Statement (as written by the participants of ASB 2014)
We are a group of “Hawksome” students from SUNY New Paltz. During our Spring Break, we are enthusiastically giving where we live in the greater Hudson Valley Community. We intend to make a lasting impact by helping others meet their needs and inspiring people to do the same.

Economic Impact of Alternative Spring Break
The national estimated value of volunteer time is $21.79 per hour. The estimate helps acknowledge the millions of individuals (including New Paltz students) who dedicate their time, talents, and energy to making a difference. Charitable organizations can use this estimate to quantify the enormous value volunteers provide. The value of volunteer time is based on the average hourly earnings of all production and non-supervisory workers on private non-farm payrolls (as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Economic Impact= $ 15253 (hours) and $2113.36 (goods and money) = $17366.36

Erica Wagner
Service Learning Coordinator
SUNY New Paltz
Career Resource Center
845.257.3266
www.newpaltz.edu/careers
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