For college students across the state, the month of March means spring break. A time to get away from books and tests and just relax…maybe catch some sun and sand.

But for one UW-Eau Claire student, it’s a time to volunteer in the hot Louisiana sun.

UWEC sophomore, Amanda Meyer, won’t be spending any time on the beach this spring break. Instead, she’ll be helping some people in Louisiana who are still rebuilding after Hurricane Rita.

"I'll be going to southwest Louisiana, Lake Charles, and we're going to be rebuilding houses that were destroyed by Hurricane Rita in 2005,” Meyer said.

Meyer will work with volunteer college students from across the country in the United Way’s Storm Corps. Meyer says she first heard about the group through an ad on MTV.

"I had actually visited Louisiana in 2005 before Hurricane Rita and Katrina, and I fell in love with the area and the culture, and when I saw this advertisement I just really wanted to help out."

So, while some of her friends may be following different pursuits this spring break, Meyer will be giving of herself.

"I tried to get some of them to do it, but they just didn't see what they could do to help,” Meyer said.

But Meyer says she sees the good in how she’ll be spending her spring break.

“I think it's a way for the youth in America to just step up and show that we can give back to our own communities."

Meyer will fly to the Gulf Coast region this Saturday, and return to the Chippewa Valley the Saturday after that.

She says members of her family have donated money to help her pay for her plane ticket. From there she says everything is provided for her, including housing and a taste of some Cajun cooking.