This Spring Break, 30 students and five staff members will be attending service trips to New York, Houston, Detroit or Kansas City.
These trips are possible due to BREAKAWAY, a student organization at North Central. In each of the destinations, students will be doing service work with members of the community.
While in New York, students will be working with the City|Service|Mission (CSM) in an urban environment, doing hands-on ministry service. The Houston trip will involve working on hurricane-relief projects with the Epworth League. While in Kansas City, students will be with Jerusalem Farm, focusing on service retreat experiences, sustainable living and home repairs. Those going to Detroit will be doing economic disaster recovery work with Motown Mission.
“Our goal as BREAKAWAY board members is to encourage students to attend at least one service trip with us during their time at North Central. The trips encourage students to break out of their comfort zone and really get to know themselves and their peers,” says BREAKAWAY president Danielle McAuliff ’18.
The organization gives students the opportunity to meet new people while serving the community they visit. They will also be seeing and experiencing a new place in the world.
“From my perspective as both an adviser and past service trip participant, BREAKAWAY trips offer three main opportunities: an opportunity to do something for someone else; an opportunity to travel across our country and the globe; and an opportunity for community,” says BREAKAWAY adviser Brian Rainville.
In addition to attending the trips, students also have the option to apply to be a student leader, and staff members can apply to be a staff leader. Each trip needs one student leader. A student leader’s role includes planning team meetings, leading team briefs and providing support on the trips.
Laura Seiberlich ’20, a student leader who will be attending the trip to Kansas City for the first time, says, “there is such a strong focus on making sure everyone feels included … it creates a sense of community.”
These trips are offered over D-Term, Spring Break and summer vacation. Check BREAKAWAY’s Facebook for applications.
*Editor’s note:Title has been modified for correct form of trips.
