Callaway and Osage counties on Nov. 2 and 3 benefited from the volunteer efforts of a five-member volunteer team of University of Missouri students providing service through the Missouri Alternative Breaks program. Hundreds of other MU students were doing similar volunteer projects that weekend across Missouri.
Since 1991, Missouri Alternative Breaks (MAB) has been a student-led program where the planning of service trips, recruitment of students as volunteers and site leader guidance and on-site volunteer work is all done by MU students. In 2019, the program accomplished having service projects in all 114 Missouri Counties at some point in the past four years. This program has provided volunteer service in Missouri, across the U.S. and internationally.
Site Leaders for the Callaway and Osage county projects were junior Margaret Lynch, of St. Louis, and sophomore Taylor Corich, of Chicago. Other team members included St. Louis senior Madison Stravinsky, Chicago sophomore Britany Scimeca and St. Louis freshman Emma Volmert. University of Missouri Extension faculty team support was provided by Christal Huber, of Callaway County, and John Gulick, of Osage County.
The Saturday worksite was Our House, the homeless shelter in Fulton led by Executive Director Misty Dothage. The five member team volunteered 30 hours painting three rooms at the shelter.
Lunch break featured Beks Restaurant with a short visit to experience the Berlin Wall at the National Churchill Museum and OneCanoeTwo card shop in downtown Fulton.
At the completion of the Saturday painting job, the team drove to Osage County for further volunteer work and to spend the night.
In total, the five-member MAB team provided 50 hours of volunteer time over the weekend.
A March 13-15 Missouri Alternative Break volunteer weekend is being planned. If you are a Callaway or Osage county nonprofit that would like to be considered as a potential site for the student volunteer help, please contact University of Missouri County Engagement Specialist John Gulick at [email protected] or 573-690-1076, and he will work with you to discuss potential projects.