By Anne Ross Hope

In 2018, the summer going into my junior year, I had the opportunity to travel to New York City with an organization called FOCUS [Fellowship of Christians in Universities and Schools]. FOCUS is supported by their National Ministry stationed in New Cannon, Connecticut and has 11 ministries throughout the East and West Coasts. During the school year, FOCUS holds weekly meetings with its participating schools and students. In the Collegiate community there are many people, ranging from 7th to12th grade, that participate in FOCUS. Additionally, during the summer FOCUS holds a variety of summer programs which many Collegiate students often attend. While the majority of summer programs take place at FOCUS’s study center in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, there are a few that take place elsewhere. I participated in FOCUS’s city service program—a summer program in New York City that volunteers with The Bowery Mission.

New York City has one of the highest homeless populations in the United States. Nearly one out of every 106 New Yorkers are homeless. Additionally, roughly twenty percent of New Yorkers live below the poverty line. Thankfully, there are many organizations in place to help those in need.

Photo credit: Wikimedia user Beyond My Ken.

The Bowery Mission, a shelter based in New York City, has been serving homeless men and women since its founding in 1879. The main location lies between Soho and East Village in Manhattan. The large red brick building, highlighted by a beautiful stained glass window that illustrates the parable of the Return of the Prodigal Son, makes the building stand out. With buildings attached to each side of The Bowery Mission, natural light is scarce. Not being exposed to buildings such as this one, I was shocked by how dim the lighting was inside. The bright fluorescent white lights made the atmosphere quite mysterious and solitary. However, after walking through the long narrow dining hall to access the kitchen, I walked past many friendly people that made the atmosphere much more welcoming and cheery. 

Photo credit: Wikimedia user Beyond My Ken.

Recently, the Bowery Mission has fused with the New York City Rescue Mission and Goodwill Rescue mission in order to better combat the ever-growing issue of homelessness. With nearly 80,000 New Yorkers battling homelessness in the metro area, the Bowery Mission’s work never ends. Their dedication and preservation has been constant, even through the recent and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

The organization has remained operating through the past months because, as stated on their website, “Homelessness itself is an emergency, and now unhoused New Yorkers are in even deeper crisis,’’ so they “have a duty to remain open at all costs.” With modifications such as packaged to-go meals, limited shower access, and modified sleeping arrangements in overnight shelters, there are plenty of challenges, but the commitment from staff and volunteers remains superb. 

Photo credit: Bill de Blasio.

The support from The Bowery Mission staff is unprecedented compared to any place I have volunteered before. While many of the volunteers live in the city, I encountered people who lived across the country. During the week in June I spent volunteering there, I met some of the most selfless, compassionate, and friendly people. I found it remarkable that the staff knew the majority of the people who walked through the Bowery Mission’s signature bright, cherry-colored doors by name. Just from standing behind a counter serving food, I was able to get a clear sense of how passionate the staff and routine volunteers are for what they do.

The staff members came from all backgrounds, but they all shared a deep commitment to helping the homeless. I heard inspiring stories from the staff who had once been homeless themselves, along with stories of people who had left their flourishing careers to dedicate their time selflessly. 

While I do not remember her name, one staff member told my peers and I the story of her career change. She had a notable job in the fashion industry prior to working at the Bowery Mission. Feeling that she could do something to better serve her community, she took a job at the Bowery Mission in which she would be responsible for organizing and overseeing the clothing donations. 

The day I helped organize the clothes donations was one of the most draining, because the amount of donations far exceeded my assumptions. Thousands of articles of clothes were piled in high mounds in a room the size of an average bedroom. The carpeted floor was hidden by all the garments. My peers and I spent several hours sorting through them, but at the end it looked as if we had not even made a dent. After the day of organizing clothes, I was even more astounded by the selflessness of the women who spent her hours sorting through donations daily. 

Photo credit: Wikimedia user ScifoRobert.

By providing clothes, food, and shelter, The Bowery Mission gives homeless people the ability to overcome economic, health, and family hardships they may be facing. Therefore, many people’s attitude did not reflect the hardships they were facing because The Bowery Mission gave them optimism. With at least 558,726 meals, 140,658 nights of shelter, and 100,334 articles of clothing provided per year, The Bowery Mission is making a significant change in the New York metropolitan area. However, what impressed me the most are the people involved with the organization. The organization is a remarkable place, and I highly recommend volunteering there if the opportunity presents itself.