AWOL fundraising

This year’s Alternative Week of Offsite Learning (AWOL) has many intriguing trips taking place during spring break, and has been preparing through countless ventures of fundraising. AWOL has annually had many fundraisers and projects to raise money in efforts to reduce the cost for its participants.
One of the reasons that AWOL is so popular is because of the priceless volunteer opportunities that it gives students at a low cost. Over the years, AWOL has taken students on journeys across the world, learning about different cultures, and helping others through organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, shelters, and churches.
This year’s AWOL destinations include Seattle, Tennessee, and Florida. However, there are many steps before the trip that need to take place in order for the trip to be a success.
One of these steps includes fundraising. As a whole, AVON products were sold in efforts to reduce cost, and the Dad’s Belgium waffles event served breakfast to community members and students. In addition, the sale of BVU Hockey t-shirts to BVU students and Alumni recently ended.
Senior Dana Lembke is the Site Leader for the Florida Everglades trip that will be helping wildlife and turtles. This opportunity was formerly a secret, tagged as the ‘mystery trip’ that has everyone excited and anticipating spring break.
On the downside, since everyone is stretching their wallets for money in this economic recession, fundraising has not been as profitable as it has in the past.
 “Unfortunately, fundraiser profits have not been as good as I would have liked. People are tight for money so there is not a lot of extra going around,” Lembke said.
Also, the annual omelet breakfast and raffle for a Wii have contributed to lowering the cost of AWOL. “We did make some money through personal efforts of fundraising. I must say it has helped our participants in paying their amount off to some extent,” Site Leader Sujana Regmi said.
Regmi is the Site Leader for the trip to Seattle, Washington that will be helping homeless people and feeding the hungry. “I am looking forward to great service, a good time, and discovering myself through the impact of serving others,” Regmi said.
Somehow, even after the setback of complications with fundraising, participants are still seeing the positive benefits that AWOL always brings. “I am still looking to the service itself and the time that I will get to spend with my group,” Lembke said.
Even more, “Communication is key in the fundraising process, and we have all been learning how to work together, and become a team.
Therefore, I think that when we finally do go on our AWOL trip, we will have closer relationships with one another and be able to reap the benefits of volunteering as a unit,” AWOL participant Jadi Odle said.
Among other things, the participants come back with a different mindset and a better outlook on life and their education. “I am looking forward to not seeing snow! But other than that, I’m excited for our service projects. We are going to be spending four days at two different national parks helping remove invasive plants, species and path maintenance” said site leader Dustin Killpack.
“I think AWOL is doing very good. All of the groups have been fundraising as much as possible on their own, and everything has pretty much been covered,” Vice President of AWOL Marcia Mondie said.
All of these efforts have contributed in helping students achieve their volunteer and service goals in their perspective destinations. All of the fundraising is a significant factor in making these trips possible and helping students fnancially.