The Visor

Project HOPE gives poor of Akron food and friendship

October 22, 2009

While most people avert their eyes from the ragged homeless people begging for pennies, some Hoban students spend their Wednesday evenings searching them out. Members of Project HOPE, which stands for Hoban Outreach for Peace and Equality, travel with campus minister Jason Horinger and history teacher Greg Milo to distribute food and clothing and befriend the poor of Akron.

“I heard about Walsh’s program and went with them one Monday,” Horinger said. “I started talking to Mr. Milo, and we came up with some ideas.”

The group starts the evening by spending 45 minutes to an hour preparing food in the kitchen and making bags with sandwiches, chips and cookies.

“Once we get the food prepared, we go up to the chapel for reflection,” Milo said. “The main thing is that we’re not there to just give them food: we’re there to embrace them and present them as people.”

At the conclusion of the prayer service, the members climb into a van and scour the streets of Akron for needy people. They encounter them walking along the road as well as at St. Bernard Catholic Church, Grace Park and Canal Park.

“We’ve given out jackets, sleeping bags, gloves, scarves my wife made and conversation, which is what they really want,” Milo said.

The group tries to bond with the people they meet and have compassion for them.

“It’s been a really humbling experience,” sophomore Julianna Blischak said. “We meet people who are worse off than most could imagine, but we don’t just hand out the food, go home and feel sorry for them. We talk to them, share stories and laugh.”

The stories the people share and the time spent together have impacted both teachers and students alike.

“At St. Bernard’s we met Jess, who is just the sweetest,” Blischak said. “She told me that her birthday was the next Monday and asked me to bring her something. When we were there the next Wednesday, I gave her one of my bracelets. What was special was that she told me she’d never take it off.”

Milo was also greatly affected by the influential experience.

“I was floored the first time we went when our students embraced these people so joyfully,” Milo said. “It changed my outlook on the abilities of our students.”

All in all, Project HOPE has proven to be eye-opening and touching for many involved.

“More than anything, this is raw,” Horinger said. “This is life as it happens with people in dire circumstances.”

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