This fall, Salt Lake Community College students can make a difference in their community as part of the Alternative Break program.
Alternative Break allows college students to volunteer in local communities to help improve the plight of those whom may be impoverished, malnourished and/or disenfranchised.
“We have one focused on food insecurity where our students will go to a couple of different local organizations,” says Thayne Center interim director Sean Crossland. “Students will spend three days volunteering and learning about how organizations are working to address food insecurity in the Salt Lake Valley.”
Students will assist Salt Lake CAP Food Pantry, International Rescue Committee’s New Roots Refugee Garden and Utahns Against Hunger’s Real Food Rising Farm.
A famous dignitary will be visiting the Parliament of the New World Religions in Salt Lake City during a separate fall break opportunity.
“The Dalai Llama will be here speaking and there’s all kinds of service information and education sessions,” says Crossland. “It’s a really, really big deal.”
The Thayne Center also provides volunteer opportunities during Spring Break.
Students can help the homeless in San Francisco, work with environmental organizations in Seattle, support Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab or build cultural relations in the Hopi Reservation in northern Arizona.
Other volunteer opportunities are available in the Salt Lake Valley.
From tutoring school children to serving as part of SLCC’s Work Study Program, the Thayne Center staff and website helps students find the “best fit” volunteer opportunities.
