Northern Kentucky Leadership Institute (NKLI) offered students an opportunity to spend spring break volunteering in the Appalachian community of Auxier. NKLI partnered with Hand in Hand Ministries as part of its annual Empowerment Retreat.
Thirty students helped to rebuild three homes and completed projects like replacing flooring and dry wall, installing a handicap accessible ramp and digging a ditch to help with flooding. The students totaled 360 service hours from March 4-6.
Enjoying the service trip — and the service.
“These had to have been hands down one of the best eye opening experiences I have ever had in my life. . . I didn’t know how bad poverty truly extended to here in the U.S.,” said Roberto Amazendes, NKU student volunteer. “I was able through this retreat to bring joy and hope into not only the people we were helping but to the people that were making this whole entire operation possible. It truly made me feel blessed and happy to be part of such an amazing organization at NKU that truly cares about the people that struggle in this world.”
“I was a little hesitant to go on the retreat at first because I had never been to an extended service project. The retreat was a real eye opener about what the conditions are really like in eastern Kentucky and pushing me out of my comfort zone,” said Alexander Taylor, NKU student volunteer.
“I’m really glad that I went and got to meet a lot of new people but also grow closer to people I already knew. I was a bit sad when we had to leave, but I’m excited to bring the things I learned back with me and share them.”
In addition to the NKLI retreat, the university’s Office of Student Engagement encourages students to volunteer at the monthly “Service on Saturday” events.
The last two events of this semester honor Interim President Gerry St. Amand. Visit the NKU Service on Saturday page for more details.
At work on their project.
