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Freshman Bonners Spend Spring Break in McDowell County
released: 04/04/05 |
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Unlike the majority of their peers who traveled home for spring break or to a sunny  location in the far south, the Wesleyan Freshman Bonners traveled a short distance to the southern part of the state for their annual service trip. On Friday, March 18 through Tuesday, March 22, the Bonner Scholars Program served the community of Caretta, in McDowell County, WV.
Freshman Bonners are required to participate in the McDowell trip which provides a multitude of opportunities: service related as well as cultural that highlights the concerns and strengths of a close-knit community. This five-day trip was filled with extensive home repairs, learning about the community and the unique culture of McDowell as well as taking part in several cultural experiences such as dancing to bluegrass music at the Liberty Bluegrass Hall.
This year marked the fourth annual service trip by Bonners to Caretta and specifically with the local non-profit organization Big Creek People in Action. Their function is to provide community assistance activities and programs through funding with the help of work teams from colleges, churches and other groups.
The Wesleyan students stayed in the Caretta Community Center while venturing out in the area to repair and remodel homes as well as talk to middle-school aged children about service and opportunities for higher education. Thirteen freshmen, six student leaders, Bonner director Lee Ann Brown and parent volunteer, Keith Hurley worked as a team to complete a porch, install insulation and siding on two houses, dig ditches, replace shingles on a roof and complete numerous other small tasks.
“Not only do I get to work in the community, I also have time to talk to the family members and citizens to learn something about life in McDowell County,” remarked Brandon Carder, is a freshman philosophy and education major from Lewis County, WV.
 “The experience taught us the importance of team work and community,” commented Jason Bentley, a sophomore public relations from Winfield, WV. “At the end of each day, we gathered to reflect and tell stories about the life-changing experiences of the day and how we gained a better understanding of the generational poverty that takes place in many places in America. McDowell County, the fifth poorest county in the country, provided us with many challenging discussions based on their service and a framework to understand and be aware of the social issues that are the root of many of the problems facing the citizens there. The motto of the Bonner program is “Changing the World through Service” and for the Wesleyan Bonners, the service trip to McDowell changed our perspective as well.” |
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