Walking with Boston's Homeless

Each year, Catholic Campus Ministry and United Campus Ministry bring students to Boston for a tour of downtown led by people who are or have been homeless. This tour gives students the opportunity to learn firsthand about homelessness. As they walk Boston's streets, students also offer food and clothing to the homeless they meet along the way.

In 2009, this tour will take place on Saturday, October 24.

What You Should Expect

The Friday afternoon before the tour, participants pack backpacks and other sturdy bags with sandwiches, granola bars, new socks and underwear, and winter outwear that has been donated. On Saturday, we leave in a carpool from the Reflection & Spiritual Care Center at 8:00 a.m. Carrying the bags, we meet our tour guides downtown and begin walking the streets of downtown Boston. As we see homeless people along the way, students approach them in groups of two or three and offer the bags to them. We stop to purchase lunch (or you can bring your own) and reflect on the morning. Then we continue the tour until about 3:00 p.m. We return to Plymouth State around 6:00 p.m., continuing our reflections as we drive home.

How to Register

In 2009, the cost of this trip is $25. Sign-ups begin Monday, October 5. To sign up, bring a $15 non-refundable deposit to Preston Fuller or Kathy Tardif in the Reflection & Spiritual Care Center, open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday to Friday and by appointment. The final balance of $10 is due Monday, October 19. Space is limited, and a waiting list will be created, if necessary.

NOTE: No religious affiliation is required to go on this trip.

For questions, contact Preston Fuller (plfuller@plymouth.edu or 535-2327), the United Campus Minister, or Kathy Tardif (kmtardif@plymouth.edu or 535-2673), the Catholic Campus Minister.