Gannon ABST Washington, DC

The 2017 D.C. ABST Family  Has Been Gathered From the supporters at home, from all our friends here at Gannon University, to us, the ones going down to Washington D.C., we are all part of the team, the family, that wants to help improve our community and those who are less fortunate. To all our supporters and friends at home or at the university, we have decided to introduce ourselves to this family so that we all can feel closer to together, and get to know each other a little better. Here is the team of students that is going to be going down to our nations capital to serve those who are in need of a helping hand.  Student  Trip  Leaders: Jennifer Hepler Major:  Criminal Justice Hometown:  Vandergrift, PA Your thoughts on the trip (what you are excited, how you feel about it, why you chose it):  I am excited to learn about how to be an advocate for those who experience homelessness. Ilya Kharkovskiy Major: Nursing Home...

As I lay down in my bed that I have dearly missed for the past week, I can't help but to feel guilty and remember all of the men that I encountered this week that did not have this luxury. As I look around my room, I see just some of my blessings that I take for granted each and every day. As I arrived home and was greeted with a hug from my mom, I can't help but want to give every man that I met this week that feeling of endless support and companionship. All things that I thought of as rights, but now am realizing that they truly are privileges. My heart longs for the men, and I truly wish that I had more time to spend with them, and had the opportunity to accompany them through this part of their journey. Although, my part in their journey doesn't need to stop just because I'm not physically with them. There is so much more to be concerned with about homelessness, and although charity is necessary, I am going to focus on getting the social justice that these men dese...

  We started out interviewing the men at 7 in morning. Me and Emily interviewed a gentleman who was from Cuba, he is in the process of getting an ID. We spent about an hour and a half with him. He had very inspirational words to say to us. "Education is the key to freedom, when you have education no one can fool you" - he praised us for pursing an education, in which  he believes that we can eventually change the world.  "Anything you want to accomplish begins today" -he applied this to his situation and expressed these words of advice to us as well. We left the FMC and toured the US Capital building, which was a every different atmosphere then the FMC. On our way to the Capital Building we did another outreach run. Through the experience I was able to gain through the FMC I found that it was easy to connect with the homeless during our outreach runs.  On Friday we walked to Union Station and we ran into a gentleman who recognized us because we had talked to him at ...

To give or not to give, That is the question. Or maybe a better, To live or not to live. Rises the question; What is life? Beautiful, full, whole, and all the like. Life is what you make it. And so if this life is mine, Then this life is mine for creating Mine for reverence. Mine for perseverance. Approached by a homeless man, Mine for benevolence. To give or not to give, Is not the question at all. It is the answer The end result The chance for making someone's day Or the stop of life for you, halt. To live or not to live Is the real question. To do it all right Is the real quest in life. -Josiah Leach

This past week has been a blessing that I am so grateful I had the opportunity to have. Before this trip, homelessness was not something that I recognized, but after spending a week at the Father McKena Center I believe my heart has truly changed. This week has been full of eye opening conversations that have made me realize homelessness can happen to any one of us. These men were extremely open with us about their life stories which I found truly touching. I found them to be a motivation because even in their situations, everyday they walked into the center with big smiles on their faces greeting everyone with bright personalities. The strength of these men is something that will motivate to try and make a difference in this world as I continue on my life journey. -Stacy Joseph

I'm so blessed to have been able to spend a week living and serving the homeless in a shelter in Washington DC this week. Thank you Justine for being an amazing co-leader and role model for our whole group. Thank you to all the beautiful people in this picture because all of you truly have beautiful hearts as well❤️ I'm so grateful for the gifts I've been given in this life, and thank Gannon University for inspiring me to grow in love and compassion through experiences like this one.  -Maggie McKernan 

Bros in the kitchen...😎