Alternative spring break trip gives students unforgettable experience in Seattle

DUBOIS, Pa. – For students, spring break is often seen as a time in which they can take time away from class, campus and perhaps travel to an exotic destination where they can relax. However, several students from Penn State Dubois and Penn State Greater Allegheny took their spring break trip to another level through the alternative spring break program.

Taveling to Seattle, WA as part of an embedded travel experience in CIVCM211N, 12 Penn State Dubois students, along with seven students from Penn State Greater Allegheny, spent their spring break on a full week of service and learning, with an end goal of helping as many people as possible in the Seattle area.

Seattle, along with many other metropolitan areas in the United States, sees struggles for some residents when it comes to poverty and homelessness. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2021the Seattle area saw approximately 10% of its population living below the poverty level. For a city its size, that equates to nearly 74,000 people. Seattle has also seen its struggles with homelessness in recent years. A study done by the city in 2020 on a single night in January found over 11,500 people experiencing homelessness. Of those people, 47% of them were completely unsheltered that night. More recent numbers from the State Department of Commerce estimated that the greater Seattle area had over 15,000 homeless people, the third largest number of homeless people in any major city in the United States. Only New York City and Los Angeles has more at the time of the study. Another social issue that often goes hand in hand with poverty and homelessness is food insecurity. This means that an individual does not have access to sufficient food, or food that is adequate quality to meet the basic needs that they need. This is not limited to those living in poverty or without a home, many families must make the difficult decision between food and healthcare, medicine, transportation, utilities and rent. To make ends meet, food is often cut out.

Students spent the week taking part in volunteer efforts to try to make as much impact as possible over their spring break. Marly Doty, trip organizer and lecturer in human development and family studies at Penn State Dubois, noted that this year marked the first time since 2020 that students were able to do a full week of service due to restrictions in place because of the pandemic. In what she described as a bittersweet experience, students got to experience firsthand what individuals experiencing poverty and homelessness are going through, but also learn and take part in actions and programs that are helping people as well.

“Access to affordable housing is worse in many areas (such as Seattle) resulting in the growth of the number of unhoused people,” Doty said. “It was powerful, though, to watch the students tackle issues discussed in the classroom and translate them to real life issues people are facing.”

“When I first heard about alternative spring break, I knew that it was something I had to be part of,” HDFS student Skylar King said. “I will admit, I was skeptical at first. Dedicating and entire week of my time to other was a scary thought to a busy college student. It turns out, I wasn’t giving anything away. Instead, I was given the opportunity to meet new people, learn new things, and above

SEE Spring on page 10