Midnight Run

The RCS community provided all the relief items needed. Students held a collection for clothing (pants, jackets, and shoes) and toiletries. Before the NYC run, the clothing and footwear had been folded and organized by size, and the toiletries were divided into bins. Parents baked meatloaves that the students used to prepare many meat loaf sandwiches; several other parents provided eight dozen hard-boiled eggs and hearty soup; and still others contributed coffee, milk, and sugar. It was truly a community effort.

 

While Midnight Run does not allow photos to be taken during distributions, our students came home with a vivid perspective on how difficult being homeless really is. Teams of students worked together handing out food and clothing at multiple destinations. Some of the homeless they met seemed lonely; some were helpful and carried bins for them; some, like the street artist they met at the last stop, were outgoing and friendly. It was “definitely” a bonding experience for the ninth graders.

Midnight Run brings volunteers from churches, synagogues, schools, and other civic organizations on over 1000 of these late-night relief missions annually in an effort to create understanding between those with homes and those without.

 

Students were open to sharing their thoughts about their work with Midnight Run.

                                                                      

“It’s much different when you see the homeless on the street really needing something,” Nseya said.

 

“It’s astonishing how much stuff we went through,” Maya said.

 

“A certain amount of work is required to make this happen," Sophie said. "After the first stop (which was chaotic), we were working as a team more.”

 

“I understand a lot more about poverty,” Addie said.

 

“You realize you have so much at home,” Lucy said.