For the New Orleans trip, Smith fronted the money for airfare for over 40 of their students. Amherst students, however, paid for their own airfare and expect to be reimbursed at a later time from the trip's fundraising efforts. The trip's main coordinator, Laura Vincent '09, commented on the challenge of funding two trips. "As you can imagine, sending 28 students to the Gulf Coast, more than double our original estimate, became a daunting task," she said. "For some participants, the airfare purchase is prohibitive. Nonetheless, we wanted all students with a committed interest in the Habitat Spring Break Trip to participate regardless of their ability to pay. All of the trip's participants are fundraising relentlessly so that no one is turned away."
The enthusiasm on campus for the trip has been astonishing. AAS, Community Outreach, the President's Office, the Deans and Religious Life have all made major contributions to the fundraising efforts. Their contributions total over $10,000. Support for the Habitat Spring Break also came from many unexpected places. From a professor's e-mail wishing his "best for the trip" to offers of generous advice regarding other offices and funds to contact, the Amherst College community has shown an unexpected breadth of interest in the project. Unlike a typical Habitat building site, the devastation of the Gulf Coast created an unparalleled scale of need. The Harrison County Habitat for Humanity Biloxi Chapter describes problems specific to relief efforts from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, "We immediately launched Operation Home Delivery to help coastal residents who lost everything have an opportunity to rebuild their homes and lives. And while Habitat cannot be the answer to all low-income housing needs created by the storms, we do expect to assist thousands of families and, just as importantly, to work together in real partnerships with others to serve as a catalyst in the rebuilding process."
The Harrison County Habitat for Humanity will start building four new houses this week in Biloxi. Anticipation is growing among the trip members as they wonder what construction tasks await them. Moe Zeidan '08E, head coordinator of last year's Spring Break trip to New Orleans and participant of this year's trip to Biloxi, fondly recalls the deconstruction work his group did in 2006. "Ripping down the ceiling fans was my favorite!" he said. "Chandeliers I called them," he said. "I had so much fun. I have great hopes for this year's trip."
The hands-on construction work is a good change of pace for bookish Amherst students. "Focusing as a team on a single week-long project makes it possible for volunteers to experience the satisfaction of seeing significant tangible progress as a result of their labor," commented Channing Jones '09, a participant on last year's trip. "This was the case for us gutting flood-damaged residences last year, and I look forward to participating in actual home construction this Spring Break."
Vincent's enthusiasm for the build leaves no doubt that the last $2,500 needed for the trip's expenses will be reached. "My involvement in planning this trip has confirmed that economic factors should not bar any student from participating in the full life of the college," she said. "We have rallied so much support so far, I know it will continue."
As long as the Gulf Coast persists in the rebuilding process, the Amherst College chapter of Habitat for Humanity hopes to continue the Spring Break tradition for years to come.