A dozen members of the Newman University junior ASC Community Leader Scholars class volunteered their time Wednesday, Feb. 22 at a homeless overflow shelter hosted by Holy Savior Catholic Church in Wichita. The students helped serve dinner and beverages, and handed out snacks and sandwiches they had prepared for homeless men to take with them the following day.
The students are recipients of an ASC Community Leader Scholarship. Students who accept the scholarship are required to take a semester-long class focused on service and stewardship, and to perform a set number of service hours through the year.
The emergency shelter where the students worked is a joint effort among many different faiths and churches. The churches take turn taking care of the shelter for a month each. During that period, the church provides a room for homeless men to stay, and food and fellowship during the coldest months of winter.
It is estimated that more than 4,000 people from different parishes volunteer to help operate the shelters between November and March.
Interfaith Ministries is contracted to run the homeless men shelters, which are also funded by the Advocacy to End Chronic Homelessness (AECH). Anyone who would like to help or become involved with homelessness in Wichita can visit the AECH website at www.aechwichita.com for more information and to make donations.
