Emily Farina of Palmyra Participates in Alternative Spring Break Trip

2014 Apr 14

Palmyra, VA resident Emily Farina spent spring break serving others through James Madison University's Alternative Spring Break Program. Farina, a sophomore athletic training major traveled to Luperon, Dominican Republic to volunteer with Village Mountain Mission.

The student-led ASB trips took place from March 8-15. Each trip focused on a social issue, such as homelessness, resettlement, environmentalism or community wellness, in a specific region. Almost 300 students embarked on 30 spring break trips around the country and world. The students spent the week living simply, focused on service in their destination community but also on teamwork and reflection within their group.

While in the Dominican Republic, the students worked with the community through the services provided by Village Mountain Mission and helped to build a house for a local family. The group fully immersed themselves in the Dominican culture and adopted a simple living lifestyle for the week, including sleeping in hammocks for a night. They brought suitcases full of supplies and donations and put on a carnival for the children in the community.

For information about JMU's Alternative Break Program, including an interactive map showcasing past service trips and Community Service-Learning, check www.jmu.edu/service/ and www.jmu.edu/abp.