SBCSC buses homeless trying to escape subzero temps

SOUTH BEND, Ind. --- The South Bend Community School Corporation donated their bus on Tuesday in order to shuttle the city’s most vulnerable population. 

LaToya King, a SBCSC transportation operations supervisor, said the decision was made on Monday night and she did not hesitate to volunteer. Nearly 15 people boarded her bus at 7:30 p.m. at Hope Ministries for the winter amnesty shelter on Tutt Street. 

“They’ve been saying how cold it is and how it is a bless to be able to get on a warm bus and be shuttled to these different places,” said King.

The route went as follows:

-      7:30 am pick up at 121 E. Tutt Street (Weather Amnesty Site) and then Center for Homeless at 813 S. Michigan Street and drop off at Broadway Christian Parish 1412 Carroll Street (Corner of Broadway and Carroll) . Individuals would stay at BCP until 11 am.

-      11:00 am pick up at Broadway Christian Parish 1412 Carroll Street (Corner of Broadway and Carroll) and drop off at Hope Ministries 432 S. Lafayette Blvd. Individuals would stay at Hope until 1:00 pm

-      1:00 pm pick up at Hope Ministries 432 S. Lafayette Blvd and drop off at Charles Black Center 3419 W. Washington Street. Individuals would stay at Charles Black Center until 5:45 pm.

-      5:45 pm pick up at Charles Black Center 3419 W. Washington Street and drop off at Hope Ministries 432 S. Lafayette Blvd. Individuals would stay at Hope until 7:30 pm.

-      7:30 pm pick up at Hope Ministries 432 S. Lafayette Blvd. and drop off at Center for the Homeless at 813 S. Michigan Street and then 121 E. Tutt Street (Weather Amnesty Site) – these both open at 8 pm so may need to allow individuals to sit on the bus until 8pm when they can enter the building.

King said the people were truly grateful and also said this shows the school corporation puts action behind it’s words. 

“I think as we come together as a community we can achieve more and change can start with us,” King said. 

The Tafolla family spent their evening on the road and picked up homeless people. The idea came from Maddie Tafolla, 11, who wanted to give them food, blankets, scarves, and gloves. 

Tafolla’s father, Joshua, said the lesson he hopes his daughter learned is that we’re all human. 

“We all deserve a life and we all deserve to be warm in these cold temperatures,” Tafolla said. 

An official with SBCSC said they will be busing people Wednesday starting at 7:30 a.m. The Tafolla family will be out tomorrow in Elkhart and South Bend.