WKRN, Nashville, Tennessee News, Weather, and Sports |Clemson students spend spring break in Nashville

Clemson students spend spring break in Nashville

A group of college students from Clemson University in South Carolina are in Nashville this week for their spring break, helping local organizations across the city.

Monday, the students aided Monroe Harding, an organization that helps transition at-risk youth into the community, with a mass mailing.

While the students didn't work hands-on with kids, they were a huge asset to the organization, stuffing more than 5,000 envelopes to be mailed to supporters.

"They are saving us probably a $1,000 or more that we wouldn't be able to give directly to the youth, if they weren't here helping us out today," Melissa Houck with Monroe Harding told News 2.

The group has several service projects lined up for the week.

"Wednesday we're working at New Hope Academy in Franklin, Tennessee.  They're having a teacher workday so we're going to do some yard work and fix up their building for them," student Bethany Avera said.  "Friday morning we're going to work with Community Care Fellowship serving breakfast and lunch and then we're going to hit the road."

The students hope their experiences in Nashville will help them grow the alternative spring program.

"When we get back to Clemson people will see what we've been doing and maybe take an interest and more people will want to help out," said student Matt DiGiovanni.

Sunday and Monday morning students worked with the homeless ministry at the church where they're staying. 

They said the experience helped them grow by challenging their assumptions and judgments about why people end up living on the streets.