Jenny - ACSC - Blog 2

The day started out with traffic. Once we had made it to Café 458, we learned more about the organization. Sunday was very different and our training that day was mainly job specific. Today, the volunteer coordinator educated us more about the organization.

Café 458 serves a subsection of the surrounding homeless community. Specifically, the mentally and physically disabled as well as those suffering from substance abuse are served. Doctors or other organizations refer the clients to the Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency. Their clients are required to come to meetings three times which are followed by a meal in the café. The meetings help to educate the homeless individuals on their rights and benefits that should be available to them. The Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency also uses these meetings send their resources to help find jobs and permanent housing for their clients.

After this info briefing, half of the group went to go cook while the other half began cleaning in preparation of an upcoming health inspection. Those that cooked, served the clients while those who cleaned headed to a room to sort coats.


As part of the cleaning crew, I was a little disappointed that I wouldn't get to interact with the clients. However, I was very fortunate to learn about yet another aspect of the Atlanta Center for Self-Sufficiency as a non-profit. They accept donations of winter coats sand sometimes other clothing and have a room where they store it all. Because their services do not extend to children, they had no use for the children's coats that were donated. We packed away children's coats so they could be taken to an organization that serves children. With the extra space created, we hung up the adult coats that were previously still in boxes due to lack of hanger space.

After our day was finished at the Café, we went to the Martin Luther King Jr. Historic Park and museum. It was so powerful and relevant to be learning about someone who so deeply believed in justice. This experience really made me reflect on all of the privilege that I have; I have a home and am physically and mentally able.

Somewhere in the museum, Martin Luther King Jr.'s quote: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere". This quote encapsulates my experience of the goal of Alternative Breaks. As I reflect on my experiences, justice is as word that I think of often. Privilege and prejudice so often plague the perception of the true state of a situation. I am so lucky to be part of an organization that tries to clear our vision.