Student Publications
University of Houston
151C Communications Bldg
Houston, TX 77204-4015
713.743.5350

©1991-2007
Student Publications,
All rights reserved.

Last modified:

Contact:
ktruitt@uh.edu

Life & Arts

Some students lend a hand during break

Members of UH community plan to volunteer their time

by DEANNA JOHNSON
The Daily Cougar

Some students will be having fun in the sun this Spring Break while others will be lending a helping hand to those in need. From missionary trips to volunteer programs, UH students are eager to make the break a productive week.

Finance and management senior James Reddish will be going to the Ripley House with UH's Finance Association.

"We're going to help underprivileged kids, play with them and tutor them with their school work" Reddish said.

The Ripley House contains a charter school, a community center for families and a clinic.

Many students are helping the victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita during Spring Break. Members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority are going to New Orleans to help with the rebuilding effort.

Sara Guttilla, a kinesiology sophomore, is packing up for Gulfport, Miss., next week with Sports Quest, a Christian soccer-training program in Houston.

"We're going to help rebuild houses, roofing, painting, that kind of thing. In the afternoons, we'll be giving two soccer camps for the kids in the area," Guttilla said. "It's a stress-relief thing for the kids, gives them something fun to do that they may not have been able to do since Katrina came in."

Other students have less conventional volunteer work lined up.

Andrew Spinella, an anthropology senior, will ride along with Emergency Medical Services workers in an ambulance to help out and get a feel for the emergency room as preparation for medical school. His friend, who is an EMS worker, was able to set him up with the position, Spinella said.

"It would be my first time doing it. I (will) have to get it approved by the fire chief," he said.

Don't worry if you find yourself in need of an ambulance during the break, Spinella said.

"I guess I would be basically observing. I don't think I would have to do any life-saving," Spinella said.

Ethan Morgan, an economics and German sophomore, is headed to South Padre Island. For a program with his church, First Baptist, called Beach Reach.

"We drive drunk kids around," Morgan said. "It's awesome; I do it because it gives me a chance to minister to the people down there. The first night on the vans the people we drive around are surprised at what we do.

"And we hope it gets them thinking, ‘Why would someone give up Spring Break, the time when you are supposed to be having fun to serve someone?' We want them to say, ‘Those guys are different. They have something I don't. They have something and I want to know what it is.'"

The Metropolitan Volunteer Program will meet at the University Center each day of Spring Break between 9 and 10 a.m. for the Spring Break Urban Experience. 

Students can still sign up for the program. The lineup is as follows: AIDS Foundation of Houston, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday; Literacy Advance of Houston, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday; Children's Museum of Houston, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday; SEARCH 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday; Houston Arboretum, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. For more information or to volunteer, call Justina Wariya at (713) 743-5200.

Send comments to dcshobiz@mail.uh.edu