Since 2005, Stony Brook University’s Alternative Spring Break Outreach (ASBO) has offered students a way to use their time off to come to the aid of others, such as traveling to communities ravaged by natural disaster. This year, however, as the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world, ASBO took on a different mission: It partnered with two campus fraternities — Phi Delta Epsilon and Iota Nu Delta — to raise money for hospitals in need of personal protective equipment (PPE).

The reason was simple:

“This pandemic has made a huge impact not only on the ICU, emergency rooms, and other facilities in hospitals but also in pediatrics where many children have underlying health problems that compromise their immune systems,” said Kiran Sharma ’21, Phi Delta Epsilon secretary.

Through social media, they created a COVID-19 “This or That” Challenge Fundraiser in which participants built a castle out of cards, engaged in an ice bucket challenge, took part in a blindfolded makeup challenge, made a TikTok video, and went on an alphabet scavenger hunt.

A total of $4,500 was raised, “more than nine times our original goal of $500,” said Rhea Manjrekar, ASBO public relations coordinator, who added that Children’s Miracle Network was one of the organizations chosen because “ASBO’s values strongly align with those of that organization.

“It was amazing to see both the Stony Brook community and those outside of it come together virtually to help support a cause and make a difference! I felt a sense of solidarity, and it touched my heart,” said Michelle Hartmann ’21, ASBO fundraising chair.

“As ASBO is a service-learning organization, it is our mission not only to give back where we can but to truly understand and empathize with the communities we are working with. Devoting spring break to volunteer is truly amazing, but it is important to understand that we are privileged to even have the opportunity to do so,” said Manjrekar.

Read the full story: Student Groups Use Spring Break to Help Hospitals Get PPE | | SBU News