More than 120 students to volunteer across Missouri

Students will serve 17 Missouri counties with Mizzou Alternative Breaks

March 7th, 2019

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Over the weekend, more than 120 University of Missouri students will be leaving Columbia to volunteer in towns across Missouri. During their service trips, students will learn about important community issues, including education, health, homelessness and poverty.

“These service trips illustrate how Mizzou students are part of the fabric of the state of Missouri,” said Marshall Stewart, vice chancellor for extension and engagement. “They illustrate why I say we are the University for Missouri.”

The weekend of March 8-10, students will partner with community organizations in 17 counties. The service trips are part of the partnership between Mizzou Alternative Breaks and MU Extension. Volunteer locations include:

• Butler County – Cedargate Healthcare
• Cape Girardeau County – Humane Society
• Chariton County – Chariton Park Nursing Home
• Cooper County – Master Gardens
• Dunklin County – Hope International
• Greene County – Ronald McDonald House
• Howard County – Endless Options, Inc.
• Jackson County – Kipp Academy and Benjamin Banneker Elementary School
• Jasper County – Watered Gardens
• Lafayette County – New Haven Living Center
• Linn County – YMCA
• Maries County – Youth Building at City Park, Vienna City Hall
• Monroe County – Mark Twain State Park
• Osage County – Lake of the Ozarks State Park and Where Pigs Fly Farm
• Louis County – Eagle College Prep Elementary School
• Wayne County – St. Catherine’s Outreach Center
• Worth County – Worth County Fairgrounds

“We are so excited to spend a weekend serving other communities in Missouri,” said Alexis Hamby, director of leadership and service for Mizzou Alternative Breaks and a junior studying journalism. “The weekend service trips give us an opportunity to learn more about Missouri through hands-on experiences.”

Founded in 1991, Mizzou Alternative Breaks sends groups of students on service trips during weekend, Thanksgiving, spring, summer and winter breaks. Participants enter communities with the mindset of “Serve, don’t help”— one of the program’s guiding principles.