Most people think of parties, girls and no sleep when spring break comes to mind. This is not the case for a special club of Trinity students that deem service back to the community is much more important. The Green Cross is a club that sets up many service opportunities for students throughout the year.
They have again planned a service trip to Ocean Springs, Miss., to give back to a community that still has clear signs of Hurricane Katrina’s wrath nearly five years ago.
The trip will last five days and the volunteers will be staying at Camp Victor in Ocean Springs. Camp Victor has housed volunteer workers for the Katrina cause since it struck on Aug. 29, 2005. Camp Victor has countless bunk beds for volunteers as well as a cafeteria, Ping-Pong table, pool table, TV and a nearby beach.
The teachers on this trip are the same as last year: Ms. Cory Lockhart, Mr. Dave Case and Mr. Michael Budniak.
As far as actual service locations and activities, there is no way to tell now. Upon arriving at the camp, the staff at Camp Victor assign specific tasks for groups of volunteers. Some of last year’s service sites were Christus Victor Lutheran Church, Public Works, and the home of Gladyss Manning. At the home is where the bulk of service work was done.
They did everything from tearing a bathroom bare and rebuilding it a piece at a time to painting the kitchen cabinets. There was also painting done at Christus Victor Lutheran Church and also at Public Works.
When asked about the most memorable experience throughout the trip, Trinity junior Parker Lawson said, “I loved the last day, just working our butts off, sweating and enjoying it.”
“Ripping the floor in a cramped closet was an interesting experience, but you realize it is about something bigger than yourself,” junior Mac Payton, said.
Green Cross members realize that at the end of a day of hard work in the spring heat in Mississippi, it is not about girls or parties or even yourself. It’s about joining peers to help those who need help and to make a difference in someone’s life.