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Center for Civic Engagement Sponsors Second Alternative Spring Break,
University's Fourth New Orleans Trip
ATLANTA – College students from Oglethorpe University are again turning away from more familiar notions of spring break – partying, home cooking and sleeping late – in favor of lending a hand in the Gulf Coast region devastated by Hurricane Katrina. This is the university’s fourth trip to the Gulf Coast since the hurricane hit. Lead by President Lawrence M. Schall, 30 members of the Oglethorpe community will travel to Louisiana for an alternative spring break on Saturday, March 17 at 9:00 a.m., returning Saturday, March 24 at 5:00 p.m.
The Oglethorpe volunteers will work with Common Ground in the 9th Ward district of New Orleans gutting and de-molding homes. Volunteers will also paint, work with local children’s groups and staff relief distribution centers. The university’s Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) will pay for the students’ transportation to and from New Orleans and the volunteers will pay a donation to Common Ground for food, housing and safety equipment.
In October, Oglethorpe was named to the U.S. President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for distinguished community service and for the extraordinary volunteer efforts by the school and its students to serve Gulf Coast communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Immediately after Hurricane Katrina hit, various Oglethorpe students, President Schall and his wife flew with Angel Flight of Georgia pilots to Louisiana and Alabama to unload and distribute supplies to those in need. In March, 30 members of the Oglethorpe community spent their spring break gutting damaged homes in New Orleans. In November, Oglethorpe opened its Center for Civic Engagement and in January 40 students traveled to the hurricane devastated communities with CCE for Winter Break.
Common Ground's mission is to provide short term relief for victims of hurricane disasters in the gulf coast region, and long term support in rebuilding the communities affected in the New Orleans area. The Common Ground Collective was established in the first week after Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans. It was the first organization to open up a medical clinic and provide immediate assistance (food, water, supplies) to the thousands of low-income residents unable to evacuate.
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