Stockton Week 6, Wednesday
Today we went and cleaned an area called “The Slough.” My group talked about the fact that if we didn’t meet a local of Stockton, named Jordan, who told us his story of how rough it was growing up in Stockton, it wouldn’t have meant as much cleaning up. After that we went to a delta and had a lot of fun swimming.
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Painters
Instead of painting the ROHCC today we picked up the Mormon Slough. It was dirty and dangerous work but it was also very rewarding. To know that we were cleaning up the homes of the less fortunate that others do not respect felt good. Afterwards we had a water day.
- Cherry Mike and Ike’s: Samantha, Scott, Dylan, Connor, Jocelynn, Hayley
Today we were enlightened in such an amazing way. We got to clean up a slump, which was more than just the average “clean up”. As we picked up the slump we found bible verses, children’s toys, pictures, and clothing. Each object we found gave each of our team members a different thought. I found a broken picture frame and I instantly wondered what picture formerly belonged in it. We got a chance to emerge ourselves in the lifestyle that the homeless experience.
- Farm team Cheyenne
Instead of working on the fence today, we went and cleaned the slough. The slough is an area where many homeless people and other people often dump their trash. It was really an eye-opening an experience because we’ve been staying in a nicer area of Stockton, and the slough, which was a bad area, was very close to that area. Our team discussed how that is very similar to L.A., some areas are very nice, and you can travel maybe three miles and be in an area that’s completely different. I thought that was a very interesting observation, and relating this area to our own was valuable.
- Fearless Flying Fencers: Ranger, Katie, Shannon, Alex, Harry
Today, we went and worked in a not so nice area of Stockton. We were picking up trash. I found it a very enlightening experience. For the first time in my life, I saw pipes and needles. Of course I knew about drugs, but I had never seen the real deal. Also, there were a few homeless encampments and it showed me how homeless in these areas made something out of nothing.
- LAVOS: John, Kade, Abigail, Carter, Gracie, Emily, Bryan, James, Sara, Ethan, Claire, Kathleen