The Wolfington Center and Campus Ministry treat homelessness as a serious issue that they address through using their resources to help those in need.
The Wolfington Center not only helps the community but develops the intellectual and spiritual minds of students.
“We try to not just talk the talk, but walk the walk,” Ann Marie Barr, administrative assistant, said.
By taking the Cabrini Loop, volunteers are able to make stops in locations in Norristown where work in the community can be done. Coordinated Homeless Outreach Center (CHOC), is located in Norristown. At CHOC people get a chance to have shelter and get their lives together, although it is a temporary solution. Volunteers can have a chance to talk with the residents of CHOC and not only show support for them, but also gain knowledge into the real world.
Campus Ministry does a lot to help the homeless. As of two years, they decided to have two students responsible for leading the outreach of work with homelessness each year.
“We are really about encouraging the student leadership piece,” Father Carl Janicki, director of Campus Ministry, said.
A lot of the students who work in Campus Ministry contribute to the work they do with the community.
“I really like it here,” Madeline Coutu, peer minister, said. “It’s a great community and everybody is supportive of each other.”
Campus Ministry has two programming activities a month. One of those activities is PB&J night. They make PB&J sandwiches and take them into town and give them to people experiencing homelessness.
A goal of Campus Ministry is to apply awareness on campus to start conversation between students about the subject of homelessness. By starting conversation more students will get involved and that’s what is important.
“I do know that Cabrini does some work with the community and the homeless, but I don’t know the specifics of what they do. I believe that it is important that this kind of work in the community goes on and eventually I would like to do my part to help.” Ryan Klott, junior exercise science and health promotion major, said. “In my ECG class we are going to Philadelphia to feed the homeless and I am happy that I will be contributing.”
@kevinmoylett
