Students Spend Break Giving Helping Hand

While many winter-weary college students spend their spring break soaking up the sun on sandy beaches, a dozen students from Kansas are spending their vacation painting two earthquake-damaged apartment buildings on Laurel Canyon Boulevard.

Instead of slapping on the sun block, the students from Sterling and McPherson colleges--two small, Christian schools--began slapping paint on two apartment complexes Monday. They expect to have the job completed by Thursday afternoon.

“I really love doing community service,” said Carla Brannon, the group’s leader, after she climbed down from a ladder. “I am working hard, but I’m also enjoying the warm weather and getting a break from school and the books.”

Brannon, 21, said she realized that she could have spent her vacation relaxing on the beach or going home to visit her family in Oklahoma City, but she decided to use her free time to help someone in need.

“So many people my age have their minds on others things,” the junior English major said. “I am grateful that by the grace of God, I have a mind to do this sort of work.”

Brannon, who is head of her school’s community service ministry team, rounded up some of her like-minded friends to make the 30-hour road trip from central Kansas to Los Angeles, which included an overnight stop at a host church in Albuquerque.

During their stay here, Brannon said, area churches have brought box lunches to the work site and invited the group to their fellowship halls for dinner.

The students are sleeping on mattresses on the floor of a dorm behind the offices of Habitat for Humanity of San Fernando/Santa Clarita in North Hollywood, which also provides bathroom and kitchen facilities, Brannon said.

The restoration project is sponsored by the Campus Chapters department of Habitat for Humanity International, which is dedicated to providing decent and affordable housing for the homeless and poor.

But the trip won’t be all work and no play, Brannon said, as a broad smile spread across her face. “On Friday, we’re going to sleep late,” she said, “and then we’re going to spend the day at Universal Studios.”