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Community Outreach

Alternative Breaks - Week Long Trips

Spring Break, Hurricane Relief Trip March 8-16, 2008

General Program Information
Issue Focus: Hurricane Clean up Efforts
Cost of Trip: $500.00 ** Price may vary with group fundraising projects and costs in the region.
Student Trip Director(s): Chris Soares, Trip Director (chris7386@yahoo.com)
Shannon Harknett, Assistant Trip Director (shannon.harknett@uconn.edu)
Acceptance of Applications: August 24, 2007
Application Deadline: Until trip is full
Notification of Participation: Upon payment and form completion
Trip Leaves: March 8, 2008
Trip Returns: March 16, 2008

Community Outreach Participant Form PDF

On August 25, 2005 the Gulf Coast was hit by one of the nation’s most devastating hurricanes. Over one year later, the people of the Gulf Coast are still in desperate need of resources to rebuild their cities and towns -- and their lives.

In the devastating wake of Hurricane Katrina, Catholic Charities of New Orleans continues to provide a desperately needed service to the people of the Greater New Orleans area through their Operation Helping Hands initiative. Fifty-five members of the University of Connecticut community will assist those affected by Hurricane Katrina by traveling to New Orleans on a charter bus to participate in ongoing relief efforts.

Operation Helping Hands will provide accommodations and meals (breakfast and dinner at the housing site as well as a boxed/bag lunch at the work site). Accommodations are in safe locations and range from sleeping bags in church halls/parish centers to dormitory-type residence halls to large military-style tent operation. Operation Helping Hands organizes housing for volunteer groups approximately one month prior to a group’s arrival in New Orleans and participants will be notified in advance where they will be staying. The entire UConn group will be housed together in order to foster group bonding and reflection.

The current focus of Operation Helping Hands relief work in New Orleans is removing appliances, furniture and other household goods from houses. If necessary, volunteers may then remove damaged walls, ceiling, floors and wiring. All necessary supplies and safety equipment (with the exception of work boots which participants must provide themselves) will be provided by Operation Helping Hands, Community Outreach and their partners.

Participants should expect to travel on the weekends and spend weekdays doing relief work. However, in order to enhance the alternative break experience, the group interact with the unique and vibrant community which they are helping to rebuild exploring the city of New Orleans together, as well as speak with residents about their experiences during and after Hurricane Katrina..

To sign up for a relief trip:

  • Bring completed form to Community Outreach in Room 302 of the Student Union as soon as it's completed. Forms will be accepted until the trip is full. Forms are accepted on a first come first serve basis.

    • Download form here:

  • Bring $150.00 payment to the Business Office in Room 314 of the Student Union. The business office hours are 8:30-4:15 daily. Your spot will not be held without a deposit. Final payments must be made by February 8, 2008.

    • More Questions?

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