It's spring break, and while many college students are sunbathing on the beach, others will be surviving on the streets.
A small group from St. Edward's University is learning what it's like to be homeless.
This is the second year the Campus Ministry organized the Urban Plunge. Students spend five days on the streets from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Then they'll sleep in churches.
"I just brought toothpaste and a toothbrush. Some soap and a water bottle," student Shyda Hoque said.
"It's going to open my eyes to a lot of things, my opinion on things. The way I live. And all for the better. I'm here to grow," student Kacey McCoid said.
They hope to walk away with more compassion for people on the streets by following in their footsteps.
"There's a different level of service, in that instead of serving the homeless as far as giving them food or money, but actually going and being present with these people and seeing how you can serve them in that way," student Paul Hagey said.
 |  |
 | |  |
| | | | | | | |
Alternative spring break
As part of Urban Plunge, St. Ed's students learn what it's like to be homeless.
 
| | |
| | | | | |
|
The first stop is "Church Under the Bridge," below Interstate 35 at Sixth Street.
"Slowly you start to realize the rhythm of the homeless life. They actually get up early in the morning. The food, being out all day and not having a place to really sit down and relax, it wears you out. It makes you see how it's easy to stay homeless. You get caught in the rhythm, and it's hard to get out because you're tired and you're hungry," Hagey said.
"We're not here to judge or get a story, but just hang out with them. Be a friend," McCoid said.
With their new street smarts, the students hope to come up with new ways to address homelessness. Part of it is raising money that will go to the homeless community.
"Several folks are actually off the streets as a result of the program last year, because of the relationships that developed between the housed and the non-housed," Anna Aldave of Campus Ministry said.
"That's our number one job. That's what we're here to do: to be a brother to each and everybody. To see them as ourselves. That's the one thing we should be giving and it's the one thing we give the least," McCoid said.
And compassion is the one thing these students are stepping out to give during their spring break.
