By John Ancilloti, Staff Writer
Over spring break the St. Francis Inn Service Trip will bring students to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to feed the homeless. The trip will go from February 29 to March 6.
According to the City of Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services about 5,700 people “are considered to be homeless in the city, which includes about 950 who are unsheltered.”
Alice Miller Nation, director of the Franciscan Center for Social Concern, gave information about the trip at an interest meeting on Monday, January 27. The students will help out at the St. Francis Inn soup kitchen in the Kensington area. The soup kitchen serves about 350 to 400 meals every day.
Some Google reviews about St. Francis Inn say, “Great place for people who don’t have anything.” Another says, “Helps me out a lot. God bless them, and great food.”
Students interested in going must apply for the trip. They will begin working at 9 a.m. and finish at 6 p.m.. However, there are breaks throughout the day for eating and conversing. Every night after working they eat together as a community and have “reflection and conversation.” During this they reflect on the day and what stood out.
As well as working in the soup kitchen, there are other activities on the trip. In past years they have gone to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Miller Nation also said, “we have to go get a Philly cheesesteak while we’re there.” They also go to the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.
It is recommended that students bring a journal with them. “We take a little bit of time writing,” said Miller Nation, “what our experiences were, who we met. Because, not only do we want you to serve the guests at the inn; we want you to talk to them, get to know them a little bit.”
It costs $125 to go. However,
Miller Nation said, “I never want people not to go on the trip because of money.” If interested in going on the trip, but the cost is an issue, talk to Miller Nation. Aside from food on the way to Philadelphia and the way back to St. Bonaventure, all expenses are taken care of. Food and lodging are provided. People on the trip will stay in an apartment across from the Inn.
In preparation for the trip the students going will have a meeting where they discuss the details of the trip and meet the other students who will be going as well. A video of the Inn will be shown and students who have gone before will share their experiences and information with newcomers.
Cammie Dutchess, junior strategic communication major, went on the St. Francis Inn service trip over winter break from January 4 to January 10. She says it was a new experience that she loved.
“It instilled in me a deeper meaning with God,” Dutchess says about the trip, “and how God’s work is done and how I am helping to do God’s work with service.”
Dutchess bonded with one of the guests at the Inn known as “The Professor.” The Professor would give people deep existential questions. Things difficult to answer, but worth pondering. She also says “everyone at the Inn were very welcoming and had amazing hearts. It was great to see everyone doing God’s work together.”
ancilljm19@bonaventure.edu
