Instead of heading south for beaches and sunny weather, 18 members of various greek chapters will spend their Spring Break this year volunteering for non-profit organizations and touring various greek headquarters.

The select group of students will pile into vans and start their eight-hour road trip to Indianapolis, Ind. for the Greek Alternative Spring Break trip. They will spend six days volunteering for various organizations, visiting Greek chapters and exploring Indianapolis.

Micah Martinez, staff lead from the Office of Greek Affairs, on the Greek Alternative Spring Break trip said the application process for the trip began around the beginning of last semester. Students filled out an application, went through interviews and were then selected to participate in this year’s trip.

“A lot of people think of Spring Break as a time to have a fun and crazy vacation, and this is a chance to do something more meaningful and give back,” said Martinez.

Lauren Wilcox, sophomore in public relations said she is looking forward to participating in the Greek Alternative Spring Break Trip for her first time.

“I am very excited to have the opportunity to help out non-profits while hearing people’s stories and how those events have influenced how their view on life,” said Wilcox.

The group will volunteer at the Indianapolis Humane Society, Horizon House and Jameson Camp. Along with volunteering, they will also participate in greek activities, said Wilcox.

“I think the trip will be beneficial to the students because it provides an alternative point of view and an eye-opening experience, something you wouldn’t necessarily see in Ames,” said Martinez

Throughout the spring semester the group has had meetings to prepare for the trip. These meetings trained the students on how to interact with people as they volunteer, but this also gave the group members a chance to get to know one another said Wilcox.

Wilcox said she is looking forward to gaining important knowledge about what is going on in the world. 

“I think the whole greek community will benefit from this trip because those of us who go to Indianapolis will have the chance to present what we learned,” said Wilcox.

Graye Farnum, senior in elementary education went on the Greek Alternative Spring Break trip last year.

Farnum said she didn’t know many of the students going on the trip before, but by the time the trip was over she had made some close friendships.

“My favorite memory of the trip was really getting to know everyone who came with,” said Farnum.

Last year, Farnum’s group spent a few days volunteering at the Horizon House, a daytime shelter for the homeless in the Indianapolis area.

Farnum said her group didn’t make a huge impact on the homeless community of Indianapolis, but being able to brighten people’s days by having open and comfortable conversations was enough.

“I’m just a broke college student, I don’t have a lot to give, but I know I have more than most, and just paying that little bit forward is what really matters,” said Farnum.