A Different Take

Today was much different than anything we have experienced so far on Alternative Spring Break. We went to Task Force, which is supposedly an emergency shelter but in actuality a full time shelter for homeless men. Task Force is in an old warehouse only three blocks from where we are staying (a good area for all the worried parents out there) but when we arrived many of us felt we were in a "bad" area. Two police cars basically cordoned off the sidestreet where the shelter was located and the warehouse looked rundown. We heard a talk about homelessness and the goal of Task Force from Scott, a former housing commissioner of Atlanta. His words jolted many of us, but what really stuck with us was the tour we received of the building. The image that will stay with us was first walking into the room where the men stayed during the day. Many of us during reflection spoke about how uncomfortable that moment was and the feeling that we were violating them by coming into their space. It was really the first time we were confronted with the stark realities of homelessness. And it hit us. Hard. 

We were put on TP Patrol for the first several hours. We helped Task Force move toilet paper packages away from windows because there had been break-ins with people taking packages of toilet paper. It was not what any of us had expected to do, but it was something Task Force really needed done. After that, we were asked to help chip away the insulation above the floors on the empty 4th level where Task Force hoped to set up transitional housing. It was dirty and hot and hard to breathe (we were given masks), but for every square foot we cleared we saved them $10 and helped the organization towards its goal of providing transitional housing a way to help get people back on their feet. It was tough day for many of us, both physically and mentally.

After we completed our service for the day, we were given free time. Some of us met up with friends and relatives while others of us went shopping and others went to the High Museum and saw exhibits on The First Emperor of China and loaned items from the Louvre. FUN FACTOID THAT MIGHT NOT ACTUALLY BE THAT FUN BUT IS STILL A FACTOID: The bureaucracy of the First Emperor of China was so advanced that their weapons were signed by the maker, the maker's supervisor, and the supervisor of the supervisor so that if they malfunctioned in battle, individuals were held responsible. We all met up at The Flying Biscuit (awesome name for a restaurant) and had an incredible meal (with, maybe you guessed, amazing biscuits). We returned to the hostel and together reflected on the work we did today and talked how the experience and images from today will stay with us for a while. We have only been together for 4 or 5 days, but we have become a tightknit group. The experiences we have had down here and the people we have met have been incredible and we want to thank everyone who helped make this trip possible for us.

One of the Two Happy Guys on a 16 Person Trip,

James