Serve Beyond Cincinnati in Biloxi, Mississippi
Serve Beyond Cincinnati's (SBC) Biloxi, MS spring break service trip caught my attention because it was designed to be ecological gulf shoreline rehabilitation, a different perspective on service than my usual international service trips aimed towards helping people. While we did do some shoreline cleanup the very last day, the trip turned out much differently than expected, which is not unusual when one makes plans.
The first day we arrived we did some sightseeing, and got a feel of our surroundings in the deep south. Monday we helped Ms. Di at her Starfish Café, where “bouncing back and returning to the sea of life are accomplished through hands on experiential life and restaurant job skill training.” We worked on deep cleaning the kitchen, planting a vegetable garden, creating a walkway and paving it with inspirational stones we painted. Tuesday we spent the day at the large local Humane Society, cleaning cages and playing with adorable cats and dogs. Wednesday we mulched trails at Twelve Oaks, and I absolutely fell in love with the magnificent 400-year-old oaks trees and the story of the property. Thursday was rainy, and cozy at Diana’s women’s shelter, where we cleaned, did odd projects and I rearranged all the artwork on the walls. That evening we visited New Orleans, to see the sights and have dinner, and Friday we spent the morning cleaning out bags and bags of trash from the coastline by our cabin, and the afternoon spending time with children at the Boys and Girls Club.
While the trip did turn out much differently than we all anticipated, it was a great opportunity to become familiar with the culture, and the wonderful organizations that are actively working to be positive voices and resources in the community. We met some angels in disguise, and I thoroughly enjoyed working with the group of students I traveled with. I know I learned more about Mississippi, its culture and its people than if I had just planted trees and picked up trash for the whole week. Life works in mysterious ways, and I am grateful I was open to this experience and all its unplanned spontaneity.
The first day we arrived we did some sightseeing, and got a feel of our surroundings in the deep south. Monday we helped Ms. Di at her Starfish Café, where “bouncing back and returning to the sea of life are accomplished through hands on experiential life and restaurant job skill training.” We worked on deep cleaning the kitchen, planting a vegetable garden, creating a walkway and paving it with inspirational stones we painted. Tuesday we spent the day at the large local Humane Society, cleaning cages and playing with adorable cats and dogs. Wednesday we mulched trails at Twelve Oaks, and I absolutely fell in love with the magnificent 400-year-old oaks trees and the story of the property. Thursday was rainy, and cozy at Diana’s women’s shelter, where we cleaned, did odd projects and I rearranged all the artwork on the walls. That evening we visited New Orleans, to see the sights and have dinner, and Friday we spent the morning cleaning out bags and bags of trash from the coastline by our cabin, and the afternoon spending time with children at the Boys and Girls Club.
While the trip did turn out much differently than we all anticipated, it was a great opportunity to become familiar with the culture, and the wonderful organizations that are actively working to be positive voices and resources in the community. We met some angels in disguise, and I thoroughly enjoyed working with the group of students I traveled with. I know I learned more about Mississippi, its culture and its people than if I had just planted trees and picked up trash for the whole week. Life works in mysterious ways, and I am grateful I was open to this experience and all its unplanned spontaneity.