Here’s where Northeastern students will be helping communities during spring break by Hannah Moore March 4, 2019 by Gregory Grinnell Share Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Caring for animals. Cleaning up national parks. Helping children with special needs. Check out our interactive map to see where Northeastern students are volunteering during spring break. Best Friends Animal Society Location: Kanab, Utah Team Leaders: Alison Miller and Mary Tresvalles University Representative: Brooke Hoger, assistant director of the Northeastern Explore Program Volunteers will team up with Best Friends Animal Society, an organization dedicated to providing care and homes to a variety of animals. They will serve at the organization’s sanctuary in Utah and have the opportunity to work with cats, dogs, pigs, horses, bunnies, birds, and other animals. Projects may include cleaning and helping the animals socialize. Snapchat takeover • Thursday, March 7 Saguaro National Park Location: Tucson, Arizona Team Leaders: Elizabeth Pier and Mike Tormey University Representative: Blake Minchoff, area coordinator Located near Tucson, Arizona, Saguaro National Park protects vast swaths of the Sonoran Desert and its wide array of life, including the majestic saguaro cactus. Volunteers will be working directly with the National Park Service to help maintain the park and its trails. In their down time, students will have opportunities to hike and explore the region. Snapchat takeover • Wednesday, March 6 Peaceable Kingdom Retreat For Children Location: Killeen, Texas Team Leaders: Jill Connolly and Brianna Peterson University Representative: Doris Chow-Hannon, director of institutional research Volunteers will team up with Peaceable Kingdom Retreat, a place where children with special needs and chronic illnesses can enjoy nature. Volunteer tasks include assisting with classes, cleaning, gardening, and landscaping. Snapchat takeover • Tuesday, March 5 Cleveland Leadership Center Location: Cleveland, Ohio Team Leaders: Elaine Klatt and Elisa Figueras University Representative: Tim Krumreig, assistant director of community service programs Volunteers will team up with the Cleveland Leadership Center, which helps teach people the skills required to tackle social issues in and around the city of Ohio. During the week, volunteers will focus on supporting and advocating on behalf of the LGBTQ community, including children and people who are homeless. American Hiking Society Location: Natural Bridge, Virginia Team Leaders: Catherine Romanova and Kevin Huang University Representative: Heather Roscoe, associate director of enrollment research Students who team up with the American Hiking Society will hike and help clean up trails at Natural Bridge State Park in Virginia, which was once owned by Thomas Jefferson and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Snapchat takeover • Monday, March 4 Capital Area Therapeutic Riding Association Location: Grantville, Pennsylvania Team Leaders: Karizam Kishnani and Jenny Tungsubutra University Representative: Rachel Jolliffe, university police officer CATRA provides therapeutic horseback riding to people with disabilities. Volunteers will help maintain stalls and paddocks, feed horses, restock hay stations, and clean water troughs. Snapchat takeover • Friday, March 8 Project Cure Location: West Grove, Pennsylvania Team Leaders: Sarah Combs and Julie Johnson University Representative: Noah Brown, residence director Volunteers will team up with Project Cure, the largest provider of donated medical supplies and equipment to developing countries around the world. Volunteers will work in a major distribution center in Pennsylvania to help pack and organize supplies to be shipped. The team will also spend a day in Philadelphia to further understand how the Southwestern region of Pennsylvania supports the public health of its residents. Outreach360 Location: Monti Cristi, Dominican Republic Team Leaders: Mackenzie Duprez and Marsha Smiekle University Representative: Catherine Gomez, Jumpstart volunteer manager Volunteers will team up with Outreach360, which provides opportunities to orphaned, abandoned, and disadvantaged children. The students will teach the children basic English and literacy skills. Wine To Water Location: Santiago, Dominican Republic Team Leaders: Jason Ingerick and Zoe Karavolis University Representative: Faustina Cuevas, assistant director of the Social Justice Resource Center Wine To Water, a nonprofit organization, helps to supply clean water to people all over the world. Students will help to create water filters and distribute them to communities in need in the Dominican Republic. Plenitud Location: Las Marias, Puerto Rico Team Leaders: Jessica Lynch-Foust and Bola Origunawa University Representative: Anika Crutchfield, university police officer Volunteers who team up with Plenitud, a farm in Las Marias, Puerto Rico, dedicated to organic agriculture, will help to farm, compost, and manage stormwater runoff. Tandana Foundation Location: Ecuador Team Leaders: Gisselle Rodriguez Benitez and Justin Mudryk University Representative: Mark Este, assistant director of civic engagement programs Volunteers who team up with The Tandana Foundation will support community initiatives aimed at improving the health and education of local residents.