Students donated to the Alternative Spring Break program on Nov. 14.
The “Be the Change” coin drive fundraiser involved pairs of Alternative Spring Break volunteers knocking on doors and collecting spare change.
Organized by senior Lauren Ross, the Alternative Spring Break student coordinator, the fundraiser was a tremendous success, bringing in more than $600 in donations after two hours of door-to-door visits.
Twelve students participated, which is roughly one third of the students involved with the Alternative Spring Break program this year.
The plan was simple: divide up the campus, introduce themselves to students, talk about the program and ask them to donate spare change.
The Linfield community was more than up to the task.
Ross is in her fourth year with the program. She described Alternative Spring Break as an excellent opportunity for “focused and concentrated service work.”
Alternative Spring Break sends students to help in various communities during the vacation.
This year, the program will send students to work with Habitat for Humanity in Tacoma, Wash., and in New Orleans, and students will help with the urban homelessness problem in Portland.
The “Be the Change” coin drive is one of several fundraisers Alternative Spring Break is holding this year.
Next, it will sponsor a staff night out on Dec. 3 when the New Orleans team will supervise and entertain the children of any faculty or staff member looking for babysitters.
Students signed up in September to become involved with Alternative Spring Break.
Participants spend the next few months teambuilding and fundraising.
Alternative Spring Break will show a presentation about what the volunteers did during their week of service.
“It’s a great way to experience something outside of your bubble, something profound, and to make some new friends,” Ross, a sociology major, said.
More information is available on the Career and Community Services website: www.linfield.edu/ccs/community-service.html

Sean Lemme/Staff reporter
Sean Lemme can be reached at [email protected].