Adelphi Gives Back Month is an Adelphi University tradition. Spearheaded by the Center for Student Involvement (CSI), it offers students multiple ways to make an impact on our community throughout the month of March.
Historically, CSI hosted an Alternative Spring Break, where students give up their spring break to travel to another state or country to provide community service. Due to COVID-19, that wasn’t possible this year, so CSI offered an alternative alternative experience: Alternative Weekend Break! Partnering with Crossroads Farms at Grossmann’s in Malverne, New York, eight students participated in a safe, in-person service learning program on March 27 and March 28. Panthers worked hard cleaning up the farm, packaging seeds and working as a team.
When they were done, participants attended workshops connecting their hands-on experience with learning. Clinical associate professor Mary Jean McCarthy worked side by side with the students while Interfaith Coordinator Michael Hoffner and I provided workshops on sustainability and food insecurity.
“…the tiniest farm chores…make a bigger impact than we could imagine.”—Jende Uy, sophomore
The students reported that they loved working alongside one another and had a positive experience.
Sophomore biology major Nicolette Macchi said, “During my experience at Crossroads Farm at Grossmann’s, we turned over soil to make it more enriched, cleared out weeds, dead plants and overgrown roots around the farm, and sorted, counted, packaged and labeled all different kinds of seeds! My favorite part was counting and packaging the seeds [even though] it was downpouring. [This activity] allowed me to understand and appreciate the meticulous work that goes into packaging and selling the seeds. Also, it allowed me to have time to really get to know my peers and make new friends during this awesome experience. I definitely would go again and recommend it to anyone!”
“The alternative break at Crossroads was one of my favorite community service opportunities I have experienced with Adelphi,” said Jende Uy, a sophomore biology and premed major and forensic anthropology minor. “My favorite part was getting to know new people while helping with the tiniest farm chores that make a bigger impact than we could imagine. I highly recommend it and definitely plan on doing it again!”
See Panthers at work on Facebook.
A Growth Opportunity for Students
This Alternative Weekend Break was so successful that CSI is partnering again with Crossroads during Adelphi Goes Green Week, on April 24 and April 25. To learn more, email volunteer@adelphi.edu.