What business students learn about ethics in a Philadelphia soup kitchen

"Kensington, for those not from Philly, has long had a reputation for potent but affordable street drugs. Interstate 95 and the Market-Frankford elevated commuter train line provide easy access to the neighborhood for buyers and sellers, and abandoned buildings offer havens for drug use and other illicit activity. St. Francis Inn Ministries, which was founded by two Franciscan friars in 1979, serves sit-down breakfast and dinner for thousands of people each year, many of whom suffer from poverty, homelessness, and substance use disorder."

"These ministries are operated by a core team of nine full-time members, hundreds of volunteers from local high schools and colleges, and an ad hoc team of folks from many walks of life. In the years I've been volunteering at St. Francis, significant changes have occurred in Kensington, including gentrification, soaring housing prices and increased police activity. Such changes can make it harder for people who suffer from poverty and homelessness to remain in the neighborhood."

A volunteer served at St. Francis Inn in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia for a decade. St. Francis Inn Ministries, founded in 1979, provides sit-down breakfast and dinner and operates Marie's Closet offering free used clothing and housewares. The ministries serve thousands annually, many experiencing poverty, homelessness, and substance use disorder. Kensington's accessibility via Interstate 95 and the Market-Frankford train and abundant abandoned buildings have contributed to a persistent street-drug presence. Recent gentrification, soaring housing prices, and increased police activity have made it harder for vulnerable residents to remain. Guest attendance declined around 2018, prompting consideration of relocation or a mobile outreach unit.

Read at Fast Company