I'll Be Making Good

by Kat Barrette (CityReach Participant)

Last February, I went in to Boston with some other teens from my church to a program called CityReach. We went on night walks through the city with our guides, people who were either homeless or had been homeless. That night we slept in a church. The next day we handed out warm clothing and food to Boston ’s homeless community. Later, when I found out that my church would be visiting common cathedral, I jumped at the opportunity to make good again.

Common cathedral is run by Ecclesia Ministries, the same group that runs CityReach. Each Sunday, the homeless people of Boston and one visiting church group gather on the Boston Common for a worship service. When we first arrived, we were greeted warmly by The Rev. Kathy McAdams. When the service began, everyone gathered in a large circle. There were hymns, prayers, and Communion. I took the opportunity to help distribute Communion to everyone in the circle, and anyone who wanted to receive it outside the circle. After the conclusion of the service, my church group handed out sandwiches of all kinds to the people gathered. The amount of people lined up to get food was amazing and heartbreaking. The rule was one sandwich per person, but you could go and get back at the end of the line for another. We saw some people four, maybe five times. I remember one woman we saw probably six times, who was stuffing sandwiches into her messenger bag. She made me realize that this may be all her food for the next week. It truly broke my heart.

These two experiences shattered any and every stereotype I have ever had of homeless people. Most of us seem to think of homeless people as people who are dirty, and scraggly, and shaking cups for money on the street corners; people who are only in the situation they are in because of things like drugs and alcohol. Yes, there are people like that, but not all of them are. I’ve seen people in suits who look very well-bathed and clean, and who are homeless. Not all of these people are addicts. Some may have just been in a bad situation, like a tragic death or rough divorce. Anyone can become homeless. And of those unfortunate people who do, I’ll always be here… making good.