Project PLASE

Note: Project PLASE and Baltimore Rescue Mission are two separate organizations. However, we initiated the volunteering program at Project PLASE with the hope that our members will have more opportunity to volunteer for the homeless.

Project PLASE consists of 4 transitional shelters for men and women. The residents there typically stay for months to years. The shelter provides a large range of services from counseling to life skills learning. To learn more about Project PLASE, visit their website: www.projectplase.org

Hopkins students have recently started volunteering at the shelters. Activities include board games, crafts, and discussions about health issues (such as nutrition or stress). This is a very intimate volunteer setting and volunteers spend much of the time getting to know residents and listening to them.

Our work complement that of the Baltimore Rescue Mission. While we do less health related work, we get the opportunity to learn more about the residents and develop close relationships. Both volunteers and residents benefit from the program. We give residents opportunities to have fun, to talk about their history, and learn about health issues. At the same time, volunteers learn more about homelessness and become aware of the surrounding issues they face.

For more information please contact JHUprojectPLASE@gmail.com or Evelyn Kamgang at ekamgang1@jhu.edu.