The District of Columbia is known as a destination for history buffs and eighth-grade class trips, but the city has caught the attention of another type of tourist — students who want to spend their spring breaks volunteering.
The District ranked fifth among U.S. locations as a spring break volunteer destination in a recent survey conducted by United Way, behind three areas devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 — New Orleans, southwest Louisiana and the Alabama Gulf Coast — and New York.
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“It seems like urban areas are very attractive to the people coming on these things,” said Sally Fabens, a spokeswoman for United Way. “From what they see on the news, they understand there are so many issues.”
One of the sources United Way consulted for its statistics was Break Away, an Atlanta nonprofit that helps organize university-sponsored spring break volunteer trips.
According to Break Away Programs Director Samantha Giacobozzi, students headed to Washington were most interested in volunteering in HIV and AIDS advocacy, homeless assistance organizations, food distribution to sick patients, women’s shelters and anti-poverty groups. Organizations that benefit from volunteer tourism in the District included groups such as the National Coalition for the Homeless, the Community for Creative Nonviolence, and Food and Friends Inc., Giacobozzi said.
According to recent research conducted by the D.C. Convention and Tourism Corp., 36 percent of visitors noted the District as a place they visit because it is a place that makes them feel important, according to spokeswoman Rebecca Pawlowski.
“It speaks to the idea that people come to Washington because they want to make a difference and they see this as a place where people want to do that,” Pawlowski said.
According to Giacobozzi, students frequently stay in hostels or in churches rather than finding hotels due to cost. But Pawlowski said the city still benefits from any sightseeing or dining the groups do.
Online ticket vendor CheapTickets.com also has started offering discount flight and hotel packages for students doing volunteer tourism.
Doing good
The top five spring break volunteer destinations:
1. New Orleans
2. Southwest Louisiana
3. Mississippi, Alabama Gulf
4. New York City
5. Washington, D.C.
Source: United Way
