At a time when college students are often portrayed as overly focused on protests and activism, one group is proving that hard work and service are still alive and well in America’s youth.
Students from Winston-Salem State University are among the many volunteers spending their spring break rebuilding homes in western North Carolina, where communities are still struggling to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Helene.
“I can’t imagine what these people went through—losing everything in the blink of an eye, with no control over it,” said Cayla Parrott, a sophomore.
The college students are part of Chi Alpha, a Christian campus ministry with chapters across the country. They are working alongside nonprofits like Building Compassion, which has been coordinating efforts to help affected residents rebuild.
“We’ve got other teams that are down closer to the river bottoms, and they’re literally doing all kinds of different work,” said Frank Frankovsky of Building Compassion. “From standing up retaining walls that got undermined to rebuilding trailer homes and stuff, just whatever the community needs.
Beyond the immediate benefit to the communities they’re helping, this experience also equips students with valuable life skills. Learning how to build and repair structures is something every young person should be exposed to—real, hands-on knowledge that will serve them far beyond the classroom.
While many of their peers opted for vacations, these students chose to make a difference. Their dedication is a reminder that selflessness, hard work, and service to others are still deeply valued in America.
