During this trip, we will be volunteering with Ability 1st, which is a community-based organization empowering people with disabilities to take charge of their lives and guide their own destinies. We will assist with building wheelchair accessible ramps and collaborate with a high school program for kids with disabilities.
SWEEAC provides emergency assistance to those going through food insecurity. Gateway Center is a program that helps people on their journey to be self-sufficient. We will be working with SWEEAC and Gateway Center to prepare toys, food, and other resources for community members during the holiday season.
For our ABP Trip, we will be addressing two vital community issues: Humanitarian relief and sustainability. By volunteering first-hand with two renowned New Orleans community organizations, we will engage in work on community farming land that increases access to food for underserved populations, and serving to revitalize damaged community infrastructure. Our team will perform carpentry work, building, and painting with YRNO; and our team will be planting crops, harvesting fruits from trees, grooming/manicuring land with The Acorn Farm.
The Indian River County Conservation Program protects endangered and rare ecosystems with the aim of groundwater quality as well as flood and biodiversity protection. Participants on our trip will work on the preservation of an endangered species of mint native to Florida, invasive plant removal, and park improvements. We will also be volunteering with St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park and staying in their bunkhouse for the duration of the trip.