A man played improvised jazz piano as early risers shuffled through the long line in the kitchen to receive a meal. It was breakfast time at St. Jude Community Center, a space that serves as a food bank, resource center and kitchen to New Orleans’ homeless and food insecure.

The pianist was a homeless adult, who identified himself only as Kenn. He was visiting St. Jude for breakfast that morning and said that he learned to play piano and other instruments to mentally escape his experiences as a child slave.

“I was tortured, and the only thing that would make sense to me was the sound of instruments. I would play any instrument there is,” Kenn said.

St. Jude is a ministry of Our Sister of Guadeloupe church, located across the street from the community center. The community center provides two meals on weekdays and lunch on Saturdays. The community center also manages a food bank, houses working homeless women, runs an adult basic-education program and offers religious education.

Sister Beth Much, M.S.C, director of St. Jude Community Center, said that St. Jude’s main ministry is to feed people who are not able to provide food for themselves.

“Our job here is really not to assess or judge, but just to accept anybody who walks in where they are and give them one of our basic needs. We feed people and invite them back,” Much said.

Joe Deegan, university minister for service and justice programs and advisor to Loyola University Community Action Program, said that this act of kindness is one that could be instrumental in an individual’s journey to achieve stability.

“Having basic needs met in a way that’s humane and compassionate improves their own chances of rejoining society or just surviving and thriving as a person,” Deegan said.

Through partnerships with other community organizations, St. Jude partners with other community organizations and thus refers clients to services such as rehabilitation programs and job matching.

There are volunteer opportunities at St. Jude to help run each of their programs. School groups, visiting nuns and individuals come from around the country to volunteer their time, and local, community and corporate partners also help to assist in St. Jude’s operation.

“People say, ‘The city that care forgot.’ I wouldn’t say that at all. I would say that absolutely, care is right here,” Much said.

She said she encourages interested students to volunteer and to be creative by initiating their own programs.

Working with the homeless population provides a window into the lives of a stigmatized group, Much said. She herself has dedicated her life to the service of others.

“It allows you to see how another segment of our society lives or doesn’t live,” she said. “Of course it will deepen your own spirituality and make you become more grateful. Once people become more grateful, they will understand the importance of giving back. That’s why we were created: to give back to God what we can.”

Deegan outlined reasons for volunteering as gaining greater self-efficacy and learning outcomes while broadening awareness of social problems.

LUCAP does not currently partner with St. Jude, but student-led projects can be started at any time. Similar LUCAP service initiatives include the Hunger Relief project, led by Alexa Bilich and the Harry Thompson center.

“I think it is important to help the homeless because they are just you and I, but at a time of struggle in their lives and just need a little help to get back on their feet,” said Bilich.

Students can contact Deegan to propose new projects, or contact project leaders for more information on existing projects.

“Putting yourself out there, experiencing, being mindful and understanding the context of your environment is going to push you toward asking the right questions,” Deegan said.

In the context of homelessness in New Orleans, there are many questions that beg asking.

Those questions may lead in diverse directions, but whether regarding volunteers or clients of services at St. Jude, the community center has the same basic mission.

“We want to be a place that helps people in the process of transformation, whatever that means to them,” Much said.