How It All Began
The Alternative Break Club was formed in 2008 by Mich Strom. After Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans (as well as the surrounding areas) was in a state of complete devastation, and there was an initial surge of community service outreach from all over the country. The months after the storm dragged on and New Orleans was no longer in the news. This caused a national assumption to take form that the city's problems were over. Having seen the devastation for himself, Strom knew that the city's problems were far from over. He was very passionate about sending efforts to New Orleans in any way that he could. He organized a trip during winter break with a few brothers from his fraternity (Phi Alpha Delta), which sparked interest in the rest of TCNJ's campus. From this publicity, numerous groups, like the Bonner Center, began to perform trips and many people in the student body wanted to help. So, in his senior year of college, Strom officially formed the Alternative Break Club. The first official trip was just 27 members to Houma, LA; the next trip to New Orleans was around 40; and the trip after that broke 50 members.
Every year, the number of people on each Winter and Spring trip grows. This Winter 2012 trip included over 70 participants, and the Winter 2013 trip exceeded that with over 100 people. Awareness is spreading; people are realizing the extent of the damage that has been done and the help that is still needed. Student volunteers, having fallen in love with the city and the cause, return almost every break that TCNJ offers.
“I met so many people who are so enthusiastic about this cause … the other volunteers that we met during the week were just absolutely amazing,” Katie Gallagher, former president of ABC said after the Winter 2011 trip. One organizer at the Olive Tree Village, she said, was just 24 years old. “That, to me, was very encouraging, that young people can make a difference.”
Every year, the number of people on each Winter and Spring trip grows. This Winter 2012 trip included over 70 participants, and the Winter 2013 trip exceeded that with over 100 people. Awareness is spreading; people are realizing the extent of the damage that has been done and the help that is still needed. Student volunteers, having fallen in love with the city and the cause, return almost every break that TCNJ offers.
“I met so many people who are so enthusiastic about this cause … the other volunteers that we met during the week were just absolutely amazing,” Katie Gallagher, former president of ABC said after the Winter 2011 trip. One organizer at the Olive Tree Village, she said, was just 24 years old. “That, to me, was very encouraging, that young people can make a difference.”
After Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina was the worst natural disaster that the United States has ever seen. After the levees broke and the flood system failed, the catastrophe was considered the "worst civil engineering disaster in American history." The devastation of Katrina left the city with 1,833 lives lost and 300,000 homes destroyed. Even seven years later, the devastation is still evident and help is still needed. Vacant lots are all too common (roughly 40,000) in the low-altitude areas in the city, like the Lower Ninth Ward. Homeowners are slowly coming back to the city and finding funds to restore their homes. Volunteers such as the ones from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Project Homecoming, and ABC are the driving force to help citizens get back on their feet and into their homes.
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Even after 10 years since Hurricane Katrina, there is still a ton of work to be done in New Orleans and ABC is there to help.
Where Else Have We Been?ABC has done service work all over the country! Not only have we been to trips in New Orleans, but also have been to West Virginia to build houses for the poor there. Also, when Hurricane Sandy hit in our own backyard we took action and spent many weekends down the shore rebuilding!
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