By USF students Jessica Murati and Ernesto Mejias
When we arrived in Asheville, NC, from a 12-hour shuttle ride, it was clear this would not be just another volunteer trip. The city was still recovering from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in 2024 and the impact of historic flooding could still be seen across the region. We were there to work alongside several organizations, each playing a critical role in rebuilding and supporting their community.
This was our spring break.
As students, our lives are often filled with routines, classes, assignments and responsibilities. It makes it easy to forget how rarely we step outside of that cycle to do something genuinely new and meaningful.
This spring break was different. Instead of spending the week relaxing on Florida’s beaches or returning home to family and friends, nine of us chose something different: something that challenged and pushed us. Through USF St. Petersburg’s Office of Leadership and Student Organizations, we participated in the Un-BULL-lievable Service Break (USB) trip. Unbelievable is the best way to describe the experience.
Ernesto Mejias helps till the soil at a community garden.
Serving food at Asheville Poverty Initiative's soup kitchen.
Organizing and unloading food in a warehouse.
USB trips are hosted twice a year during spring break and again in the fall. It provides
students the opportunity to serve communities beyond Tampa Bay.
This year, the USB trip took place in Asheville, NC. From the moment we arrived, we witnessed firsthand the resilience, strength and compassion that define this community.
On the first day of the trip, not knowing what to expect, the Asheville Poverty Initiative put us to work. We found ourselves in a soup kitchen that acted like a fast-paced restaurant. Only a few in our group had any restaurant experience. But thanks to the incredible staff, we quickly adapted. By the end of the day, we had gone from confused beginners to confidently taking orders, preparing food and serving guests.
What made this experience meaningful were the conversations we had. Many of the individuals we served were facing incredibly difficult circumstances, particularly when it came to food insecurity. Despite this, the space created by the Asheville Poverty Initiative allowed them to feel comfortable, welcomed and valued. The work was fast-paced and sometimes overwhelming, but it was deeply rewarding. Seeing the smiles on people’s faces and knowing we were part of creating that experience is something we will remember.
Many of these community organizations rely heavily on the limited funding and small teams they have, meaning volunteer support plays a critical role in their ability to serve. With a group of students like us (the un-BULL-lievable bulls we are), we accomplished what might otherwise take days. While that felt fulfilling, it opened our eyes to the reality these organizations face, especially after the setbacks caused by a hurricane.
Students help plant seedlings in the community garden.
Moving large rocks displaced into farmland from Hurricane Helene.
Florida students even got to experience snow!
This was evident during our time at Root Cause Farm and Dig In Yancey Community Garden.
These community farms showed us how physically demanding and logistically complex
recovery can be. After Hurricane Helene, large rocks were displaced into farmland,
making it difficult for crops to grow and for machinery to operate without breaking
down. That was something we had never considered before. Yet, despite these challenges,
the people running these farms continued to show up every single day, committed to
providing fresh, locally grown food to their communities. Their resilience was inspiring.
Some organizations we worked with began in response to Hurricane Helene. Appalachian Community Relief’s mission is simple, to provide a free grocery store for those in need. What surprised us most was not just the accessibility, but the quality of the food and the care put into the entire experience. This wasn’t just about providing food, it was giving people a sense of normalcy. Having launched less than two years ago, it was meaningful to see how quickly and effectively a community can come together to support one another.
Now looking back, this trip changed the way we think about service. It pushed us out of our comfort zones, challenged us to adapt quickly and allowed us to connect with people in a genuine and meaningful way. More importantly, it reminded us that service is not just about helping, it’s also about listening, learning and showing up consistently.
After this experience, we can confidently say the Un-Bull-lievable Service Break trip is something every student should consider. It provides an opportunity to be part of something bigger.
Asheville will always be more than just a place we visited. It’s a community that welcomed us, taught us and reminded us why service truly matters.