At a glance
“I felt fortunate to be able to take a fantastic group of students and be part of something much bigger than ourselves. It was an eye-opening experience for everyone when you see how much still needs to be done in the area. I could not be prouder of the students that went and how they represented themselves and the college.”
Justin Dix
A group of four students and one faculty member from Alfred State’s Northland campus traveled to Fort Myers, FL to participate in a relief trip in conjunction with the All Hands & Hearts organization. This was the 25th trip Alfred State has participated in with the organization.
Electrical Construction & Maintenance Electrician major Bryce Brown (Buffalo, NY), Keagan Grim (Hilton, NY), Dawson Kazmierczak (Depew, NY), and RuokTain Williams (East Amherst, NY) were joined by faculty member Justin Dix on the trip that helped with the cleanup from Hurricane Ian.
Dix was excited to lead the group, “I felt fortunate to be able to take a fantastic group of students and be part of something much bigger than ourselves. It was an eye-opening experience for everyone when you see how much still needs to be done in the area. I could not be prouder of the students that went and how they represented themselves and the college.”
"The Hurricane Ian disaster relief trip was one to remember,” commented Grim. “It felt amazing to help the people in need, and work with others that really wanted to make a positive impact on the community. I am happy Alfred State gave me the chance to volunteer for this relief program, and it is something I would love to continue doing in the future!"
Brown wanted to participate in the trip because he knew he would be helping people in need. “I did not know what to expect but I knew I would have fun and do something I have never done before. I was met with that and more. The group was incredibly supportive, and it felt like I belonged there on day one. It was a great experience, and I would be glad to do it again if the opportunity rears its head.”
“Not only did I get to spend time learning new construction skills, but I got to build bonds with my fellow classmates before they left Alfred State for their careers out in the world,” commented Williams.
All Hands and Hearts is an organization committed to effectively and efficiently addressing the immediate and long-term needs of global communities impacted by disasters. The organization arrives early for the first response and stays late to rebuild schools and homes in a disaster-resilient way. For more information on the organization visit: https://www.allhandsandhearts.org/
