John Harrison of the National Coalition for the Homeless gives presentation at Indian Mills Memorial School
On Thursday, Jan. 12, John Harrison of the National Coalition for the Homeless in Washington D.C. visited the eighth grade class at Indian Mills Memorial School.
Harrison, who experienced homelessness for an eight-year period, provided a tremendous insight to the ease with which anyone can find themselves in a situation of unintended consequences. After providing the class a summary of his own situation, he led an open discussion on the overall subject. Harrison was open and frank in discussing every aspect of homelessness with the students, reviewing the plethora of reasons that can inadvertently cause people to find themselves in a downward spiral that is out of their control. He also helped students understand that the stigma associated with the homeless is not something those in the position enjoy.
Students, who came in with a pre-conceived notion of the causes of homelessness, found that there is more to it than they could ever imagine. They also came to a better understanding of the way the homeless are normally treated by the rest of society. As Harrison said, the simple “. . . kindness of a stranger, a smile, or a pat on the back” gives them hope that it does not have to be this way for the rest of their lives.
After answering questions from the students, everyone moved to the cafeteria to build care packages consisting of sandwiches and snacks. Concurrently, a group of 20 students wrote out words of encouragement to be placed in each sandwich bag.
Lisa Ryan, the coordinator for the event, spent countless hours preparing for this day, collecting bread, peanut butter, jelly, chips, cookies, and much more from Shamong Township families. Without their grateful support and Ryan’s dauntless determination, it would not have happened and 105 young adults would have missed a great opportunity to do something that would help others.
As Ryan stated, “These students, when confronted with the realities of society and the plight of others, always step up to do the right thing. I could not be prouder.”
Every teacher and parent in the Shamong Community shares those sentiments.
The final step was delivering the 450 sandwiches, snacks, and those “Words of Encouragement” produced by the students to “The Unforgotten Haven” in Blackwood.
To learn more about the National Coalition for the Homeless, visit its website at www.nationalhomeless.org.
