A group of three Harding students got a second chance to intern this summer at the nonprofit ministry organization Dry Bones in Denver.
Dry Bones is an organization that works with people in the community experiencing homelessness by forming relationships and building connections.
“Dry Bones is a homeless ministry in Denver, Colorado,” junior Braden Staggs said. “They try to meet the needs of the homeless youth, give food relief and try to meet the physical needs before they meet the spiritual needs.”
Originally planning to intern last summer, Staggs, junior Jacqueline Whitaker and sophomore Mason Shappley will now intern with Dry Bones this summer, one year after their original internships were canceled due to COVID-19.
“Most of my life, I have been taught of what not to do with homeless people,” Whitaker said. “This summer, I was interested in Dry Bones because they teach their interns how to serve, love and connect with the homeless population, and I just have a great desire to learn from them and their perspective on life and also learn how to be their friend.”
Shappley also said he looks forward to the relationships he will build and skills he will gain from working at Dry Bones.
“I think the skills that will help me is learning from people who have a lot of experience with interacting with people that have experienced things I have not,” Shappley said. “Being able to express that in a way that is teaching people with the love and care they deserve because there is a lot of stigma around homeless people, and I want to be able to express their worth and the love God has for them.”
To learn more about Dry Bones or to get involved, visit www.drybonesdenver.org.
