WS Chronicle

A group of Salem Academy students, along with faculty chaperones, spent their spring break doing good for others on a mission trip to Washington, D.C.

The group worked with the Center of Student Missions, a group that provides short-term urban mission trips in cities in the United States. Students worked at various locations during the trip; serving food to those struggling with homelessness, sorting food donations at a food bank, preparing a meal for more than 4,500 people, painting the hallways of the church where they stayed, visiting and praying with people in a hospital, helping clean a school building, and assisting with an afterschool program, tutoring and playing with children from Anacostia, one of the poorest neighborhoods in D.C.

Students also participated in an activity called the Urban Plunge.  Each group was given various tasks to accomplish that illustrated what it’s truly like to be homeless. They had to learn where to get meals, where the shelters were, and how to get clothing.

“The trip was an eye-opening growth experience for everyone,” says counselor Jenny Orr. “I could not be more proud of the sacrifice this group made giving up half of their spring break to volunteer. They worked so hard and learned so much. The personal growth in everyone was outstanding to witness. We left as a group of individuals with a common goal, but we came back as a family ready to help out people in our hometown.”