Sophomores Plunge Themselves into Homelessness

Students+work+at+a+local+soup+kitchen

Students work at a local soup kitchen

Alex Martin, Co-Editor-in-Chief

By: Alex Martin ’16

Members of the class of ‘16 gathered at the Saint Joe’s cafeteria to start their Urban Plunge community service experience. There, the Plungers discussed the negativity of “labeling” with Father Fitterer SJ; acted out possible scenarios when with the homeless and wrapped close to 900 burritos to feed the homeless men and women of Seattle.

The students then broke into small groups to visit homeless shelters and agencies and served dinner to the inhabitants. The Plungers went to a variety of shelters including Tent City and Operation Sack Lunch. After being delivered back to Prep, the Plungers stayed at their own one of a kind shelter; the Seattle Prep gym. Designated as homeless, many of the Plungers were not allowed entry to the shelter. Eventually, all were admitted and assigned a sleeping spot.

The next morning the Plungers were given two dollars and sent off into the concrete jungle of Seattle to purchase food for breakfast and lunch. The groups of Plungers again visited homeless agencies where they continued to assist. Later, the Plungers traveled back to Prep where there were given a blessing and released to go back to the life they’d known but with a changed outlook on homelessness. The sophomore class would like to thank Peer Ministry and the seniors who made the Urban Plunge possible.

See below for pictures of the Urban Plunge: