Caroline Sutton (second from left in turquoise) with her MAB group
While most of her friends take the beach or hit the slopes for spring break, Lake Highlands resident and University of Missouri junior Caroline Sutton is spending her holiday serving the homeless in McKinney, Texas. The program, Mizzou Alternative Break (MAB), draws students to McKinney’s Samaritan Inn, where the needy can receive shelter, food, job training and other support.
“In junior high and high school I did a lot of mission work during the summers with my church,” says Caroline, “and I have really missed having those experiences.”
The program is popular she says, and very competitive.
“They sent out 64 different groups around the nation just over spring break.”
One other student is from Texas and several are from Missouri, she says, but others are from Kansas, Iowa and Oregon.
Caroline says she never expected to see so many kids among the shelter ranks.
“I have learned more about the homeless community this week, especially how it affects the children in the families,” she says. “It’s very humbling.”
Caroline, a journalism major, will continue her work this week then head back to Columbia with her team.
