Alternative Fall Break
Washington, DC - Urban Poverty
Fall 2007

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Pre-Departure Orientation

After applications have been turned in, a number of potential participants will be invited back for an interview. If selected, participants will be required to attend one brief pre-departure orientation to receive additional information and also meet the other members of their groups.

Service Experience
Participants are exposed to a variety of different services available to homeless people in the DC area. Past groups have volunteered at the following places:

  • The Haven Shelter – Houses three to four women with mild mental disabilities for up to a year while they get back on their feet.
  • Capital Interfaith Hospitality Network – Accommodates up to three single-mother families in a house for a short period of time.
  • Capital Area Food Bank – Distributes food donated by members of the community and local stores.
  • SOME - “So Others Might Eat” – Provides a number of services such as daily meals, job training services, and housing placements. http://www.some.org/
  • Christ House – Provides housing and medical care for homeless people who have just been released from the hospital but still require additional care.

Reflections
At the end of each day of service, time is set aside to have a group reflection about the day’s experiences.

Housing
Each year participants try to spend at least one night in a homeless shelter for the first hand experience. The rest of the nights the participants often stay in some type of group housing.

Free Time
At the end of each day, there is a fair amount of time for the participants to relax and get to know the rest of the people in the group. Past groups have also made trips to local restaurants and shops and if there is enough time to some of the local monuments.

Post-Trip Follow-Up
After the trip, participants put together a short presentation about their experiences and show them to the other alternative fall break trip groups.

Fall 2007 Itinerary
Thursday, October 18
6:30-6:50 am
Breakfast
7:00 am
Leave from Cobb Deck
12:00 pm
Lunch in DC (pay own way)
1:30-4:00 pm

Meet with Bill Long, Volunteer Director for the Community Council for the Homeless, discussion, and help clean up The Haven shelter
6:30 pm
Arrive at Capital Interfaith Hospitality Network
   
Friday, October 19
6:00 am
Wake up residents, shower, make breakfast, load van
10:00-1:30 pm
Service and lunch (provided) at Christ House
5:00-8:00 pm
Service and dinner (provided) with Jobs for Homeless People
8:30 pm
Arrive at The Pilgrimage; reflections
   
Saturday, October 20
5:30-9:30 am
Service with the Grate Patrol at St. Paul’s
11:30 am-1:00 pm
Lunch/picnic at the Abraham Lincoln Memorial
1:00-4:00 pm
Service at Capital Area Food Bank
6:00-8:00 pm
Speaker panel at The Pilgrimage
8:00 pm
Out for dinner in DC
Sunday, October 21
10:45 am-12:45/1:45 pm
Service at SOME - “So Others Might Eat”

Travel List

  • At least $40 for additional expenses
  • Sleeping bag and pillow
  • Shower shoes, toothbrush/toiletries
  • Camera
  • Pullover/rain coat
  • Umbrella
  • Jeans/T-shirts/casual clothes (no sleeveless allowed at SOME)
  • Closed toe shoes/tennis shoes
  • Any snacks you might want (we will provide snacks too)
  • Towel
  • No valuables
*This itinerary is subject to change. Please allow for flexibility.

To obtain contact information for the current AFB Chair, please refer to the APPLES' Organizers directory.