Hi Gannon from ABST Washington DC Trip! 

This is Chantel Leroy. I am an adult student. I am in my second year as a Legal Studies major. This is actually my ABST first trip, and here with me is Mrs. Brenda Abreu-Baker, SSS staff, checking in with you guys.

We just wanted to share our first 48 hours with the Gannon family. We arrived in D.C. at Father McKenna Center Sunday evening and settled in for the night.

Our day began the next day at 5:30 a.m., with helping staff and the men who walk through the doors who struggle with homelessness and poverty and just need that extra support. We all split into teams and helped in different areas in the center. Our personal assignment was to help with checking in everyone that walked through the doors.

It was very humbling and taught us to be attentive to others needs because you never know what someone might be going through. We made sure everyone was greeted with a good morning and have a good breakfast or lunch. All of us were busy serving in different areas of the center from preparing meals in the kitchen, helping set up the dining area to helping organize donations, in the food panty as well as the clothing closet.

Some of the fun we have experienced so far have been serving and preparing meals, getting to know some of the clients and staff, being taught different things around the center, and sitting around the table getting to know each other on a personal level.

Some of the things we have had to overcome were some clients who were sensitive about protecting their identities. We also visited the Holocaust Memorial Museum and got to learn how global impact can make a difference even in a place we are not from and what we can do to help prevent from it happening again.

For me personally, seeing what people endured and how cruel the world can be was heartbreaking. I can definitely say this experience so far has definitely helped me gain knowledge on the importance of serving, providing grace to others and never judge someone because you never know the daily challenges they face.  

Stay tuned for more to come as we continue our week of giving to this community. 

Romans 12:10 – “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”