Alternative Spring Break Yard Sale raises funds to repair three homes in Appalachia | News, Sports, Jobs

Shepherdstown resident John Doyle, left, chats with Shepherd University Appalachian Studies graduate student Aly Nazarok at the Alternative Spring Break Yard Sale on Sunday. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Shepherd University students and community members could be found browsing around the War Memorial Building’s ballroom on Sunday, as they shopped at the Alternative Spring Break Yard Sale.

Sponsored by Shepherd University’s Student Community Services, the yard sale was created to raise funds to help cover the cost of transportation and a week’s worth of room and board for 11 undergraduate students and the staff members accompanying them.

“My friends and I did a yard sale once, when we wanted to have enough money to go to a concert. We made a bunch of money then, so I thought this could be a good idea for a fundraiser!” said junior English and global studies double major Taylor Veam, who organized the event.

“It’s mostly student run,” said Shepherd University Appalachian studies graduate student Aly Nazarok, of the Alternative Spring Break fundraising and preparations. “We have two graduate assistants going, and then two staff members, as well, along with the 11 students.

Last year, there were two staff members — one of whom was also a student — and then six other students besides him.”

Shepherd University sophomore Appalachian Studies and political science double-major Brooklyn Gholston, left, talks about some of the Alternative Spring Break Yard Sale items with freshman communications major Jay Hickman in the War Memorial Building on Sunday. Tabitha Johnston

According to Nazarok, based on her own experience helping rebuild the roof of an elderly man’s home in southern West Virginia last year, the weeklong experience can be life changing. Facilitated by the Appalachian Service Project (ASP), the trip begins with a training day on safety measures, before driving out to begin working on pre-selected homes in disrepair or in the process of being built by ASP.

“You’re gaining a lot of knowledge and experience, yourself. I had never drilled anything before or been, honestly, up on a roof putting siding on. I’d say that probably 80 percent of the people that went did not know any of that stuff, until we got down there and they showed us how,” said senior communications major Maddie Hearn. “We had one girl, who it was her fear to get up on the roof. By the end of the week, she ended up getting up and helping. She ended up overcoming her fear of getting up there!”

For many students, participating in the Alternative Spring Break allows them to connect with their Appalachian roots and help those in need during their week off from school, which this year will be March 10-17.

“My great-grandfather was a coal miner in southern West Virginia, so that’s my history. Now, my family lives in the Eastern Panhandle,” Hearn said, mentioning her great-grandfather, who had been a coal miner since age 11, died in his 40s from black lung disease. “It made the work that we were doing that much more special. Talking with some of those people, it reminded me of my grandfather and the way he grew up around the coal mines, before joining the Army.”

By the time last year’s Alternative Spring Break came to a close, both Nazarok and Hearn said they found themselves in tears.

Community members and Shepherd University students browse the Alternative Spring Break Yard Sale in the War Memorial Building on Sunday. Tabitha Johnston

“It’s very emotional, I think, because of the people you’re impacting,” Hearn said. “You’re building connections with the people, not just who you’re connecting with, but also those who you are on the trip with. There was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to come back and do it again this year — I wish I could keep on coming back to do it again after this year, but I’m graduating.”

Nazarok noted that all of those from last year’s group, who hadn’t graduated or gotten jobs, were returning on this year’s Alternative Spring Break to work on the three homes selected from ASP’s list of applicants.

To help the students reach their $3,000 fundraising goal, mention Alternative Spring Break when checking out at King’s Pizza in Shepherdstown on Feb. 20 or make a monetary donation at https://www.shepherd.edu/communityservice/alternative-spring-break.