Ten Southeast Missouri State University students will take an "alternative spring break" this year to volunteer in Pontotoc, Mississippi, as part of Habitat for Humanity's Collegiate Challenge program. The 10 students will spend the weekend before spring break doing construction work four and a half hours south of Cape Girardeau.

"An alternative spring break is a spring break that's focused and dedicated completely to community service," explained Pamela Avila, the graduate assistant of student engagement in the office of Campus Life and Event Services.

Avila's main responsibility in Campus Life is the program called Southeast Serves, which provides students with opportunities to volunteer throughout the year. Avila said Southeast Serves has never arranged a trip of this magnitude before.

"[Last] fall semester we did our first service trip," Avila said. "We went to Longmeadow Rescue Ranch."

Longmeadow Rescue Ranch is located in Union, Missouri, which is two and a half hours away from Cape Girardeau. Avila said although more students were able to take part in that trip than the alternative spring break, it was a trial run for a longer trip.

"That was just a one day trip, just to kind of see how it goes," Avila said. "For this spring break trip, rather than going the whole week, which is typically what happens, we're just going to go the weekend before again because this would be our first time coordinating an overnight trip."

After only a day of open registration, eight of the 10 spots were filled, and a wait-list was created in case any students found themselves unable to go. The amount of students Southeast Serves would be able to take was dictated by the capability of the host site, Avila said.

On Feb. 3, Avila held an informational meeting for those who were considering taking part in the alternative spring break. The meeting gave interested students the opportunity to inquire further about costs, travel arrangements and what to expect during the trip.

Ashley Elliot, a student who plans to go on the trip, said volunteering allows her to see and experience new things while helping people.

"Before I started volunteering and I got involved, I'd never been anywhere," Elliot said. "So just being able to experience new things and, while I'm experiencing them, [I've been] able to help someone and make an impact on their life."

Matthew Wood, another student signed up to take the alternative spring break, said while he hasn't worked with Habitat for Humanity before, he has taken similar volunteer trips.

"I thought it'd be a good opportunity," Wood said. "And I mean, it never hurts to go help people out. I don't think I've ever done anything for Habitat for Humanity, so I thought, 'Hey, give it a shot.'"

Each student is required by Habitat for Humanity to pay a $30 deposit for insurance reasons. Additionally, the host site requires a contribution of $125 per person, which will go toward materials and supplies. Avila and Joanna Shaver, coordinator for Campus Programming, have placed the cost of the trip to be just under $2,000. They hope they will be able to cover these costs with several fundraising events before the trip, including "share nights" at Culver's and McAllister's and a fundraising night at Simply Swirled.

Southeast Serves volunteers also will work the concession stand at the Show Me Center during the Rock & Worship Road Show in return for a share of the profits. Avila also discussed the possibility of applying for funding from the Student Government Association's discretionary account.

The group will depart Cape Girardeau on the morning of Friday, March 11, and will return the evening of Tuesday, March 15.

For information on how to help raise funds for the alternative spring break or for general information about Southeast Serves, email seserves@semo.edu or call (573) 651-2280.