It doesn’t take very much to make a difference. You have what it takes. We help you use it.

Images slideshow: house on stilts, trash in yard, carvings and writings, broken down house In neighborhoods like this around the US, the problems of poverty, discrimination, apathy and hopelessness have left people unable to fix their own communities. In the Alternative Breaks trip to Cape Charles Virginia, we were shocked at the condition of the area we had signed up to help.

Images: child on monkey bars, me with girl, me with Vince, other people’s with people To our surprise, we were always met with gratitude. Everywhere we went people asked us if we were part of “that group from Michigan,” and thanked us for all our work. They couldn’t believe we had actually taken our time to come help them when they needed it so badly.

Images: Riding on the bikes, clearing the foundation, at the food bank There was so much work for us to do in this small community. The people had become so accustomed to turning their eyes from the things that needed fixing. We felt that the work was hard, but the biggest battle was showing the community that their neighborhood could improve with only the work of a few hands.

There is a need for volunteers everywhere; you don’t need to go on a special trip to find people in need. Grand Rapids itself has issues with poverty, homelessness, and domestic abuse… pick your poison – and make yourself the antedote. Grand Valley has an organization called Volunteer GVSU in which you can choose what area to volunteer in – anything from senior citizens to tutoring. Alternative Breaks is one of those organizations.

Alternative Breaks is a great student-run organization that takes you around the country to help those in need Whether you go during Spring Break or just for a weekend, Alternative Breaks lets you choose what work you put your hands on – anything from river restoration to the Cultural Awareness trip to Cape Charles. Look at your hands – what good have you done with them lately?