News

It’s spring break, and for many college students that means heading to a warm and sunny destination. But for one group of North Carolina State University students, spring break means helping others.

This week, Volunteer Coordinator Emily Fritz hosted a trash trap cleanout in New Bern for students who signed up for N.C. State’s alternative spring break, a program offering volunteer opportunities across the state, in lieu of the traditional spring break.

“This is the second year we’ve done this, and this group was amazing,” Emily said. “They only had eight people, but in less than two hours, they removed 219 pounds of trash from the trash trap and the surrounding area.”

The program focuses on nonprofits that could use some assistance and sends students to volunteer in a specific area; this group is spending the week volunteering for nonprofits in Craven and Pamlico counties.

“It’s a great program and students get to see more of the state,” Emily said. “A bunch of them are from Raleigh and had never been to New Bern.”

Emily said though the weather was very chilly, the students seemed to enjoy their time volunteering with Sound Rivers.

“Some were eager to put on waders and get into the creek and the rest tackled the park,” she said. “They were very sweet and very eager, and they started a competition to see which group could get the most trash. I think that made the cleanup happen faster!”

Like the work Sound Rivers and its volunteers are doing to keep your waterways clean? We do! Volunteer to help at the next trash trap cleanout or have your group (civic, church, student, friends) can Adopt a Trash Trap for a month!