On Friday, Sept. 18, members of Mr. Kegelman's and Mrs. Vintigni's Fromentin homerooms traveled to Camden as part of the Office of Faith and Justice's service learning program.
Students formed teams to participate in a variety of projects, including:
- Cleaning the church at Holy Name and landscaping the property
- Working at a soup kitchen, including making and distributing more than 200 bagged lunches to those in need
- Visiting with clients at a day shelter, where homeless people can spend their days in a safe and comfortable environment
Students reported that the most rewarding part of the day was visiting with local residents struggling with poverty, addiction and hopelessness. They played board games together, sharing stories and enjoying companionship.
The pictures below shows students on a walking tour of the local community, led by Fr. Mike McHugh OSFS. While the tour highlighted many of the problems facing the community, it also introduced prominent signs of hope in the way of ongoing restoration projects in the neighborhood.
The day ended at DeSales Hope House, where a local resident shared his personal journey of recovery from addiction. In a time of formal reflection, students shared their thoughts based on the day’s unique experiences.
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