I'm very intrigued by the concept of Alternative Spring Break , which encourages young adults (18- to 24-year-olds) to engage in meaningful volunteer service instead of heading for the beach to party.

Generally the programs run in late February and throughout the month of March. College students from all across the country are doing everything from rebuilding homes in the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast to improving child-care centers in snowy Detroit. Very cool stuff.

Alternative breaks aren't just for spring, too — many schools participate in programs that offer longer programs over the summer and all over the world, from Latin American countries to Indian Reservations in my South Dakota backyard .

Keep in mind that participation in most of these programs isn't free — you still have to find transportation to get there and pay for meals and lodging while you volunteer.

So why pay to work when you could be on the beach? Well, I'm guessing that the connections you make with people and the impact you have on deserving communities are better than a suntan and a hangover any day.

Anyone participating in Alternative Spring Break this year? Or if you've done it before, tell us about your experience!

Posted by Staci at 09:55 AM |  Contact Staci |  Permalink  |  Comments (1)
Found in College, Volunteer, Wells Fargo Bank

Even though I'm not in school anymore, and I don't have kids of my own, I love to shop for school supplies. In both the big-box stores  and the independent drug stores across America, aisles are filled with wide-ruled notebooks, two-pocket folders, No. 2 pencils, and crayons.

There's something about a new box of crayons: perfectly sharp, perfectly intact, and perfectly aligned according to color. I'm especially partial to Crayola® cornflower , a soothing shade of blue. And the smell! Wax and dye and the promise of a brand-new school year. There's nothing better.

Not all families share my enthusiasm for buying school supplies—after all, they can be expensive. Many kids go back to school with last year's supplies, or worse, no supplies at all. That's a tough way to start off the year.

Fortunately, in my community there's help for those who need these essentials but can't afford them. It's Project S.O.S., which stands for "Supply Our Students." Sponsored by a local volunteer organization  that relies mainly on donations, Project S.O.S. provides basic school supplies to area students from low-income families. This year, they expect to assist more than 4,000 students!

I have to admit that selfishly, I benefit from Project S.O.S. just as much as the students do. I get to indulge my school-supply addiction by purchasing backpacks  and three-ring binders and scissors and glue. What's more, I get to share a sense of optimism with kids who might not otherwise have it.

Sadly, crayons are no longer on the supply list—they've been replaced by markers and colored pencils. But I'm pretty sure that the promise of a brand-new school year is still every box.

Posted by Staci at 11:40 AM |  Contact Staci |  Permalink  |  Comments (1)
Found in Back to school, Budgeting, Financial education, Paying, Student loans, Volunteer, Wells Fargo Bank