Student Council representatives came up with an idea to go visit the home of the Hope Rescue Mission is Reading, Pa. This trip took place on the 8th of April, bringing along Molly: our STUCO president, Kaylum: STUCO vice president, Kaylea Detweiler: STUCO representative, Sawyer Smith: our advertisement chair, Maya Fultz: or Treasure, Rylee Strunk: our secretary, Kayliegh Phillips: committee chair. When we went, we toured the development and introduced it to the staff, and friends. At the lighthouse individuals spent their time folding and organizing baby clothes. As for the men’s house, students served their food, wiped tables, and prepared future meals.
In further interest to help open this up to the student council body, and give others the opportunity to go through a heart changing experience. Hope Rescue Mission is a non-profit organization that has served as a refuge for individuals experiencing homelessness in Berks County. For over 130 years, it provides emergency shelter, meals, clothing, and support services 365 days a year. The mission operates a men’s center and the LightHouse Women & Children’s Center, focusing on restoring lives through physical, emotional, and spiritual care.
The men are started at Genesis, offering immediate needs like food, showers, and laundry. This is an old gym, looks almost from the 80’s, where there are 100+ beds for these men. This part was very impactful for our representatives. Men get on a bin at the end of their bed with a yellow top, this is where they keep all their necessities. Following Genesis, men can progress through Safe Haven, Transitional Housing, and other programs. This involves being clean from any drugs, being behaved, and showing progress. As we walked with our instructor, he made it clear the only way HOPE will help a person, is if that person is willing to become clean. Without staying clean from any substance a person can not build up and could be asked to leave. Once one progresses to safe haven housing, it gets nicer. There are roughly 43 cubicles in a room where the best or spaced off in two, with a lockable wardrobe, and two outlets: also used for people with health issues. These sleeping situations were a big reality check for STUCO Reps, so much that one could feel the sadness from the doorway.
