While many kids head to warm places for spring break, others will spend their break giving back.
On Sunday, about 50 youths left for Sidell, La., to help rebuild houses demolished by Hurricane Katrina.
“Even though there?s a lot of help already, there are still a lot of people who are tragically hurt. We want them to feel happier, and know that they are loved,” said Kelly Breeden, a senior at Centennial High School.
Hannah Hardin, a sophomore at Howard High School, helped organize the event after going to Louisiana the previous summer.
“Eleven months after the storm, it still looked like the day after the storm. I felt like I really needed to go back,” she said.
Other kids can use their spring breaks to do volunteering closer to home.
Habitat for Humanity, a national nonprofit organization that builds shelters for low-income families, has a branch in Baltimore that is always looking for volunteers.
“We encourage youths to educate themselves and their school communities about the issues surrounding poverty housing and home ownership,” said Adrionna Fike, an outreach coordinator at the Chesapeake H4H.
The Living Classrooms Foundation in Baltimore always needs kids to help with waterfront cleanups, painting and polishing boats and other outdoor activities.
“Living Classrooms? main mission is experiential education as well as providing job training and historic preservation,” said Kristin McCreery, an intern and volunteer coordinator.
For more information
» Chesapeake Habitat for Humanity: www.chesapeakehfh.org or
» Living Classrooms Foundation: www.livingclassrooms.org or 410-685-0295 ext.301
Tina Zou is a senior at Centennial High School. She is an intern for The Baltimore Examiner.
