Where did you go and what kind of service did you do?

Charlotte Wilt:  We ventured to Summersville, West Virginia to repair an old woman’s house. Her name was Dorathy.

Nicki Hodgkiss:  I went  to Sarasota Florida and we painted a house for a mother and her disabled son through Habitat for Humanity, fed dinner to parents and watched their kids through Salvation Army, packed food for homeless people at all Faiths Food Bank, and listened to the Coalition of Immakolee workers speak about justice for farm workers.

Jack Samuelson: We went to the 9th ward in New Orleans where hurricane Katrina hit the hardest. We helped rebuild a house. We did mostly interior work like mudding and texturing the ceiling and walls.

What was your favorite part of the trip and why?

Wilt: Paintballing not gonna lie. Don’t get me wrong, replacing gutters and using power saws without supervision was awesome but paintball really got the adrenaline pumping.

Hodgkiss: My favorite part was going to Guadalupe Social Services, packing food into bags, and then taking them to people in the community. The joy and thankfulness made me realize how important our work was. Also, bonding with the other students on the trip was amazing as well.

Samuelson: My favorite part of the trip was the Minor League Baseball game we went to (Babycakes game) because we had seats in a pool and hot tub with free food. It was fun to just hang out in the warm weather.

Would you recommend this trip to someone who is looking for a service opportunity? Why?

Wilt: I would recommend it to others because we took a very small group and you have the opportunity to become good friends with those you serve with.

Hodgkiss:  I would recommend this trip to anyone. It was the perfect balance of fun at the beach and work for others in the community who really need it. It was a truly eye-opening experience.

Samuelson: I would definitely recommend this trip because it was really cool to walk around the French quarter and see a new place.

What was the most rewarding part of the trip?

Wilt: The most rewarding part of the trip was seeing the woman’s face when we replaced her ceiling. She was so genuinely happy.

Hodgkiss: The most rewarding part of the trip was seeing the people in the community and realizing what you are doing for them and how the work you’re  doing truly does make a difference in their lives.

Samuelson: The most rewarding part of the trip was when people asked where we were from and we said we are from Ohio here for a service trip. Everyone who asked us this said thank you so much and the entire city appreciates it. These were just random people on the streets of New Orleans.

What advice would you give to those going on the trip next year?

Wilt: I would tell kids on this trip to actually bring work gloves and goggles. I lowkey ignored it and it was kind of tragic.

Hodgkiss: My advice for those on the next Sarasota trip is to make the most out of every moment on the trip and even though sometimes the work is hard, remember how what you’re doing is helping someone else who really needs it.

Samuelson:  My advice would be to take advantage of all your time there. Don’t worry about not getting much sleep because you’ll do so many fun things and get closer to great people.