Hood College’s alternate spring break

By Michaiah Varnes 

Hood College held an alternate spring break from March 10 to March 12 dedicated to volunteering in the Frederick community.

Hosted by the Dean of the Chapel, Beth O’Malley, “Know Your Neighbors” is an annual alternative spring break program.

The program, created 12 years ago, offers volunteer services from Hood students. 

This year specifically, Hood students and staff volunteered at the Centennial Center, the Frederick Food Bank, and the Frederick Food Security Network Resource Garden.

Jevaun-Dean Linton said his favorite part of alternative spring break was visiting Centennial United Methodist Church where he helped declutter the basement. “I was pleased to meet some of the children from the Centennial early learning center,” he said. He said he also enjoyed learning about spirituality and the goals of Centennial UMC.

Outside of the work done during the alternative spring break, the Centennial Center and O’Malley sponsor a pancake service event. During this event, students and staff eat pancakes and tie fleece blankets that go to the Centennial Center clothing closet. 

“You want to do good for other people, this is a place for you,” Erika Clary, an intern in the Hood Office of the Chapel, said.  

The Frederick Food Security Network Resource Garden is a community-based gardening program, founded by Hood College Center for Costal and Watershed Studies.  The garden is comprised of five community gardens and three greenhouses, along with multiple distribution partners. Collectively they are growing and distributing produce to those located in the Frederick City area that are residing in food deserts. 

Hood student-volunteers toured each agency and heard about how they serve the local Frederick community, what needs they see, and how they help meet those needs. 

The Frederick Housing and Human agency offers a wide range of programs and services for the community such as providing food, shelter, medical care, housing and other forms of assistance for families and individuals of low-income.