Dearborn Wolverines spend their spring break giving back

March 12, 2025

Alternative Spring Break connects student volunteers with community-based projects through a week of service.

UM-Dearborn students spend ASB 2025 delivering items to Delray residents impacted by a recent severe flood due to a water main break.
UM-Dearborn Civic Engagement Coordinator JaNai’ James, seated, and students, standing from left, Kalaia Jackson, Syeda Muntaha and Zaynab Al‑Akraa, pose for a photo in between deliveries to Detroit residents affected by a severe flood.

For many, spring break is a time to relax, reflect and get ready for the second half of the semester. But for a group of UM-Dearborn students, it is an opportunity to help others.

Through the university’s annual Alternative Spring Break, interested Dearborn Wolverines joined one of two service groups — volunteering their time with the Cincinnati Homeless Coalition in Ohio or locally in Detroit. Civic Engagement Coordinator JaNai' James led the Detroit-based group, partnering for the second year in a row with Camp Restore, a local organization that coordinates volunteers to address community needs. ASB has been a part of UM-Dearborn student life for more than 15 years.

During this year’s week of service from March 1-7, photographer Annie Barker documented the student-volunteer experience with the Detroit-based ASB program. Students completed a neighborhood-mapping project, where they collected data on abandoned and damaged homes that will be used to plan neighborhood revitalization projects. Volunteers also connected with the community organization Delray Neighborhood House to sort and deliver donations for families affected by recent severe flooding in the neighborhood. 

UM-Dearborn students packing up household items in a warehouse
At the Delray Neighborhood House, UM-Dearborn volunteers package donations for residents affected by a recent flood. In late February, a broken water main flooded dozens of homes. Repairs to the area are ongoing. 
A note with a list of items a Detroit family needs
Residents filled out request forms — here’s one from a family in need.
Two UM-Dearborn students pack boxes
Syeda Muntaha, left, and Zaynab Al‑Akraa seal a donation box with items that a family requested. 
Two UM-Dearborn students load up a van with boxes
Muntaha, left, and Kalaia Jackson organize donations in the back of the delivery van.
Staff member JaNai' Jones drives a van to deliver items to people in need in Delray
James navigates through Detroit neighborhoods to bring boxes to the residents affected by the flood.
Students deliver water and other items to Detroit residents in need
From left, Al‑Akraa, Jackson and Muntaha deliver donations to people in need.

Photo story by Annie Barker