It’s almost that time of year when Utica College will have a fall break in mid-October. During that time, Alternative Fall Break will take place and provide an opportunity for students to give back to the Utica community by taking part in local service projects. 

New Student Programs Assistant Director, Lauryn Moore, is the advisor for this organization. Moore and the club officers are still planning this year’s Alternative Fall Break. 

“We are still working with local organizations to figure out sites and projects,” Moore said, “We will still have the opportunity to work with kids, adults with disabilities, animals, refugees, trail clean up, and other ones we find.” 

There are a lot of options for students to be involved in and all trips and community service commissions within this organization will be held during Fall Break to avoid academic interference. 

“Community service is incredibly fulfilling and important,” Moore said, “It’s a chance to serve the community in which you live in, make you feel good and can look good on a resume.” 

A year ago, the students who participated helped with many community organizations. These services included: helping the Refugee Center set up apartments for new refugees arriving in Utica, helping clean up some nature trails through Cornell Cooperative Extension, helping children with readings and projects and helping set up the “Take Back the Night” march in Utica to raise awareness about domestic violence at the YWCA. 

“The students had an awesome experience with all of this and felt really good about the work they did for the members of the community,” Moore said. 

With this year’s Alternative Fall Break quickly approaching, Moore suggests that interested students register through Pioneer Place. 

“We are only accepting the first 100 registrations,” Moore said. “Find your friends, teammates, fellow leaders, roommates, and anyone else interested to sign up for this event as soon as possible in order to participate.” 

Sophomore and Alternative Fall Break’s President, Corey Evans, enjoys being a part of the organization. He has done multiple community service acts throughout his life. 

“Being given the opportunity to be president for Alternative Fall Break is just another way for me to help give back to the community around me,” Evans said, “This club is a great way to get out into the community more and give back.” 

Evans is hoping for even more students to participate in Alternative Fall Break this year than last year. Even though this club has not had a meeting yet this semester, he said there is a lot to be planned for this year. 

“I expect it will be along the lines of what we did last year within this organization,” he said, “I remember last year in the group I was with, we went and helped to clean a local church.” 

Junior Victoria Lukashevich was involved last year and now she is currently the secretary for this club. She has some memories of last year’s Alternative Fall Break. 

“During last year’s event, the group of students who volunteered worked with the Utica Refugee Center one,” Lukashevich said, “They would spread fire safety awareness to homes surrounding the UC community.” 
All students who are interested in community services can join Alternative Fall Break and contact Moore at [email protected] for information and details.