More than 55,000 people sleep on the streets of New York City every night, according to the Coalition for the Homeless.
The statistics and a week off of school motivated St. Thomas’s non-denominational Christian worship group SHINE to head to the Bronx, a New York City borough, for a spring break filled with worship and service.
On March 22, 13 St. Thomas students will load into two vans and travel about 18 hours to the Bronx. SHINE president senior Layla Mostaghimi said the long car ride is one of the key components of strengthening the SHINE community on the trip.
“When you’re in that van and you’re traveling for so many hours … it’s so great to see people just click,” Mostaghimi said. “You form such a great bond.”
The group is staying with Steve and Bonnie Westberry, the executive directors of Priority 1 Ministries, the organization SHINE works with. The Westberrys allow college groups to stay in their New York City apartment while completing service.
Bonnie Westberry said being able to help college students during trips like these is a great experience.
“It’s very rewarding,” Westberry said. “Especially to see them grow in their walk with the Lord and to touch lives here in New York City, where there is a tremendous need for Jesus.”
Monstaghimi said SHINE will be helping with various organizations while in New York and the homeless in a number of ways.
“We’re going to be making meals for them, serving them, just showing them love and support that they don’t normally get from a lot of people,” Monstaghimi said.
The group will also be helping immigrants in New York.
“We’re also going to be making sandwiches for immigrants who wait by construction sites just looking for work,” Monstaghimi said. “They’re obviously illegal foreign aliens, so they don’t have the necessity to have food, so we’re going to bring it to them.”
Sophomore C.C. Peterson said it was the promise of service and community that drew her to the trip.
“The service, people and anticipation of another wonderful experience all drew me to sign up for the Bronx,” Peterson said. “I really hope to grow closer to God and everyone on the trip, as well as gain a deeper compassion for those in need.”
Sophomore Garrett Smetana said he regrets not signing up for the trip.
“After hearing more about the trip, I wish I would have decided to sign up,” Smetana said. “SHINE is a great community, and I think the members going will really grow in their faith. Plus, what they’re doing for the homeless shows a great sense of compassion.”
Mostaghimi said she hopes that SHINE members can gain experience from the trip and find knowledge on different urban environments.
“I don’t think people really understand what homelessness is or people who come from different backgrounds, what that really is,” Mostaghimi said. “We’re ultimately going to serve other people, but they’re serving us in a way … in that we’re learning a lesson from them.”
Alison Bengtson can be reached at beng4632@stthomas.edu.