Full Day of Service
Today was day two of our DC mission trip. We started the day out by making breakfast and preparing our gourmet lunch that consisted of a pb&j sandwich, a granola bar, and a bag of pretzels. After the preparations were complete we were ready to split into three groups and head out. Group one went to an organization called A Wider Circle, this group helped pair families in poverty with furniture that they would take home for free due to their financial situation. This facility also had programs to help less fortunate apply for and get jobs that would financially provide for their families. Group two went to SOME (So Others May Eat) which was a multitude of programs that was started 25 years ago. Along with being a kitchen, SOME also owns apartments, dental & eye clinics, etc. that are offered to in the DC area, free of charge. It serves lunch to about 250 people a day and impacts many more. Oasis was the shelter that the third group visited today. It is a day shelter for elders who are homeless. The youth in group three mainly kept the people at Oasis company, served lunch and played board games with them. With doing this we learned a lot about the unique backgrounds of every person. Later in the afternoon we met back at the church and prepared a meal that we would enjoy with an estimated 40 people from the public. We made sloppy joes, coleslaw, mac and cheese, garlic bread and refreshments. As an opener the youth separated among six tables and sat with the people walking in. We played board games together. Most of the time the room was filled with laughter. You could definitely see the different personalities among us and it was very intriguing to see everyone getting along. When we had our late night reflection it was apparent how united we actually are. Most of the group discussed the similarities they had with the people they were serving. Having these face to face conversations with these people was eye opening for many. We couldn't have asked for a better experience to help us understand the societal issues around us impacting homelessness. I am confident that today helped us each individually grow and I am sure tomorrow will have a similar outcome.