FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 16, 2010
Contact: Nikonie Brown
(662) 329-7119
nnb1@muw.edu

MUW students participate in Hearin Alternative Break

COLUMBUS, Miss. – Mississippi University for Women students recently logged 650 hours of community service in one weekend during Alternative Break.

Every fall, the Office of Community Service and the Hearin Leadership Program participate in Alternative Break, which is an opportunity for students to give back to the community in one weekend.

In October, Hearin took 44 students to Yazoo City to work with the Yazoo Humanitarian Relief group. Students assisted families that were affected by the tornado in April.

Some of the students’ duties included moving donated furniture into a warehouse, painting and building homes, yard work and demolition.

“Alternative Breaks are a great way to show that you do not have to be specially trained or have an extraordinary talent to make a difference in the world; you simply need a passion to serve others,” said Jessica Harpole, MUW coordinator of leadership and service.

She added that the hospitality of the Yazoo City residents was remarkable.

“Our students were profoundly impacted by the families they met. Over the course of the weekend, they learned about strength, resilience, selflessness and teamwork and they have been able to bring those leadership qualities back to better our campus and community.”

The Office of Community Service has logged almost 2,000 hours of service by 325 individuals so far this semester, according to Harpole.

For more information about the Office of Community Service, contact Harpole at (662) 329-7355.