Impact Story-Participant Ivy West

Ivy West was a participant on a trip lead by Ciarra Sutton. The trip traveled to Fort Myers, FL, where they helped with the building and restorating affordable housing for low-income families in the area through Habitat for Humanity. The group  also worked alongside Community Cooperative, an organization that strives to fight the root causes of hunger and homelessness through food, education, and social service programs. They assisted them in their Community Café, helping to prepare/serve meals to their guests. The following is Ivy's testimonial.

"I am so happy to be able to say that I was a part of something that not only benefited the people we volunteered for but also the community as a whole. The experience that I and ten other people in the “Breaking Barriers between Hunger, Homelessness and Ourselves” group was an eye opening and unforgettable one. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that the small tasks we completed felt impactful and supportive towards the community of Ft. Myers. Considering that first off I was unsure and somewhat hesitant of joining the Alternative Break Program, I can now say that I am more than happy I was able to volunteer with so many great people and who shared similar views on hunger and homelessness. Although we only spent a few days in Ft. Myers, I learned so much more about the social issues than I thought was possible! Being around people that truly care about volunteering and aiding in the well-being of others was so heartwarming. Every aspect of this volunteering opportunity has allowed me to develop a better understanding of hunger and homelessness. Overall I wouldn’t have wanted to learn about these social issues any other way than through the Alternative Break Program and through the people that helped make this such an incredible experience!"
-Ivy West