NOP 2016: Homeboy Industries, Dolores Mission, St. Francis Pantry (Los Angeles)
While in LA, we visited Homeboy Industries, an incredible bastion for second chances; Homeboy has 11 different enterprises, all tailored to helping homeboys and homegirls, former gang members, get their lives back. We also helped at different Catholic Charities centers and in Skid Row, an area of sanctioned homelessness in which the majority of inhabitants are chronically homeless, mentally ill, suffering from drug abuse, or all of the above.
Working with Underwings, the after school program for children attending Dolores Mission, we engineers decided to have a little physics fun bringing back the egg drop. Working with these students on homework and just playing outside brought more joy to our hearts than we could see on their faces!
Preparing and serving at St. Francis’ pantry reminded us of the power of human dignity and endless generosity. The food seemed limitless as the staff reminded us as volunteers to serve and give as much as possible and then some
Working at St. Francis Pantry, we served breakfast and had the opportunity to really spend time with the guests. They shared their life stories with us and taught us what it means again to look at each other like human beings. It was wonderful to share a meal and our hearts.
