Students work with children at the Boys and Girls Club.

Participants in the first Hillel-City Year Alternative Break trip were greeted with sunny weather and a warm welcome to Los Angeles.

Students spent their first day volunteering at the Santa Monica Boys and Girls Club – painting, mural drawing, and tutoring the children, capped off by a speaker talking about education challenges in Los Angeles.

“The weather is beyond gorgeous, the local people, as well as all the students on this trip, are more than amazing, and the community work is completely and utterly rewarding,” wrote University of Delaware student Kenny Wallach, on the trip blog page www.hillelcityyear.blogspot.com

The 50 students -- from Kent State, College of Staten Island, University of Connecticut, Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach, Hofstra University, Hunter College and University of Delaware -– are the first participants in a new partnership with City Year. It is the first large-scale partnership between a Jewish and secular national service organization. The partnership will enable 200 Jewish college students to perform 5,000 hours of hands-on service at-risk communities in Miami, Los Angeles, and New York during winter and spring break.

“It was amazing to see how much a little paint can do. It looks great!,” wrote Florida Atlantic University student Lexi Aronson. “Can't wait to see what else is in store.”

Follow their progress at www.hillelcityyear.blogspot.com.

JTA: Hillel Partners with City Year

eJewish Philanthropy: Hillel Links with City Year