Look for the Helpers

Diane Stopyra November 22, 2024

Some college kids need flip flops for spring break. Others? Power tools.

For the thousands of Blue Hens who’ve participated in a UD Alternative Break (UDAB), getting a tan takes a backseat to serving a community in need. Participants in this program, nationally known for being student-led, have deployed to a variety of disaster zones (think Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and Houston, Texas, after Hurricane Harvey) to repair rooftops, clean up trash or power wash homes—sometimes in 100-degree heat.

But rest assured: They’re getting just as much as they’re giving.

Matthew Creasy, UDAB adviser and associate director of leadership development

“We’re not going into these places to save people or to save the day; we strongly believe in reciprocal service,” says Matt Creasy, UDAB advisor and associate director of leadership development. “Our students learn so much about themselves, about interacting with people across differences and about engaging ethically within a community.”

Just be careful how you refer to their experiences in the field, Creasy adds. “The students are staunch about one thing: These are programs and not ‘trips.’ They’re not going on vacation—they’re doing life-changing work.”