Pepperdine’s Hub for Spiritual Life Hosts Community Events in Honor of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week

From Monday, November 18, to Friday, November 22, 2024, Pepperdine University’s Community Engagement and Service (CES) branch within the Hub for Spiritual Life will lead a series of events on and off campus in honor of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. 

Established in 1975 at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, this annual event—sponsored by the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness—inspires communities to unite and rally support for anti-poverty organizations. This year, more than 700 colleges, high schools, and community groups nationwide will host activities throughout the week to raise awareness of urgent issues surrounding hunger and homelessness.

“Founded on Christian principles, Pepperdine’s vision is to prepare students to be servant leaders grounded in faith and character. We feel a responsibility to help our students and University community understand the challenges faced by thousands in our area who experience hunger and homelessness,” says Christin Shatzer Román (’03), director of community engagement and service at Pepperdine. “Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week offers Pepperdine faculty, staff, and students an opportunity to support communities in need and discover ways to become agents of change."

The entire Pepperdine community is encouraged to participate in the following Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week 2024 events:

Pre-Thanksgiving Food Drive | All Week | Various Campus Locations

Pepperdine community members are encouraged to donate any excess food prior to the Thanksgiving break to Manna Conejo Food Bank. Donation bins will be placed in several locations across campus as well as in all on-campus housing facilities. All donations will be collected on Friday afternoon and brought to Manna Conejo Food Bank.

Informational Tabling

Monday, November 18  | 10 AM to 2 PM | Lower Mullin Town Square

Tuesday, November 19 to Thursday, November 21 | 10 AM to 2 PM | Upper Mullin Town Square

Throughout the week, members of CES, the Student Care Team, the Food Recovery Network, CalFresh, Manna Conejo, and Nourish Club will provide information and assemble hygiene kits for our unhoused neighbors. There will be prize giveaways, surveys, informational posters, and opportunities to sign up for the week’s events.

Breakfast in a Food Desert

Monday, November 18 | 7 to 10 AM | Appleby Center Room 224

CES will partner with Pepperdine’s Nourish Club and the Natural Science Division's nutrition department for an informational and gastronomic event about food deserts—low-income areas in which it is difficult to access healthy food. Participants will be cooking and eating two different meals—one produced from food found in food deserts and the other produced from an area of food abundance. There will be informational materials and free food for all attendees. Register to attend.

Trivia Night

Monday, November 18 | 6:30 to 8 PM | Waves Cafe

Join CES for a trivia night about hunger and homelessness awareness in Waves Cafe. There will be a running Kahoot! game for everyone in the cafeteria during this time period. Prizes will be awarded to winners. Register to attend.

Service Opportunity: Garden Making

Tuesday, November 19 | 10 AM to 12 PM | Off Campus in Santa Monica

CES will be partnering with Growing Hope Gardens in Santa Monica for a service project. Pepperdine community members will serve as farm hands for vegetable seedling planting and transplanting, mulching, composting, watering, and harvesting at their urban organic food farm. Growing Hope Gardens is a local organization whose mission is to empower people of modest means and those experiencing homelessness by supporting the creation of resident urban food gardens. Register to attend.

Panel Discussion: Intersections of Hunger and Homelessness

Tuesday, November 19 | 4:30 PM to 6 PM | Black Family Plaza Classrooms 188 or Zoom

CES will host subject-matter experts who will speak to the intersections of food and housing insecurity in greater Los Angeles County. How can one form of insecurity lead to another? How and in what ways are hunger and homelessness inextricably linked? How can organizations today fighting hunger and homelessness better serve their community with a knowledge of how these two basic necessities—food and shelter—interact? Register to attend.

Panelists include:

• Savana McWilliams (’24) (moderator)
• Fonda Rosing - development manager at Westside Food Bank
• Rick Schroeder - president and CEO of Many Mansions
• Kay Gabbard - treasurer at Malibu Cart
• Claire West Orr - founder of  PATH (People Assisting the Homeless)

Information Session: Hunger Resources

Wednesday, November 20 | 11 AM to 12 PM | Black Family Plaza Classrooms 189 or Zoom

This event is open to all Pepperdine faculty, staff, and students interested in learning more about local hunger resources available to the community while enjoying a healthy catered lunch. There will be four short and insightful presentations from the following partners—the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Manna Conejo Valley Food Bank, CalFresh, and the Student Care Team. Attendees will learn about the current state of food insecurity on and off campus as well as efforts to mitigate hunger among Pepperdine students and the Los Angeles community at large. Register to attend.

Service Opportunity: Food Bag Assembly 

Wednesday, November 20 | 1 to 3 PM | Off Campus in Oxnard

Create food bags at Westminster Free Clinic and Community Care Center, a nonprofit community care center that helps ensure that patients receive nutritious food as part of their health care. This is a weekly opportunity offered by CES. Contact Zachary Tisinger for more information. Volunteers must submit an application to participate.

Panel Discussion: The Christian Response to Hunger and Homelessness

Wednesday, November 20 | 2 PM to 3:30 PM | Hahn Fireside Room or Zoom

CES will host subject-matter experts to discuss the role of Christians in the response to hunger and homelessness. What does the Bible call Christians to do? How does Jesus interact with those who are hungry and/or unhoused? How can Christians support those experiencing food and housing insecurity in the 21st century? Register to attend.

Panelist include:

• Stanley Talbert - Seaver College assistant professor of religion
• James Fleming - administrator and pastor at the Santa Monica Salvation Army Corps
• Falon Barton (’15, MA ’18) - campus minister at Pepperdine’s University Church of Christ
• Kathy Huck - executive director of About My Father's Business

Service Opportunity: Meal Preparation and Distribution

Thursday, November 21 | 8 to 11 AM | Off Campus in Malibu 

Join CES and Malibu C.A.R.T. (Community Assistance and Resource Team), a local nonprofit organization, in preparing and distributing a meal to homeless residents of Malibu. This is a weekly opportunity offered by CES. Contact Ryan LoCascio for more information. Volunteers must submit an application to participate.

Service Opportunity: Thanksgiving Meal for the Unhoused

Thursday, November 21 | 1:45 PM to 5:15 PM | Off Campus in Reseda

CES will send a group of Pepperdine community members to Reseda for “Michael’s Meal,” an annual Thanksgiving feast for those experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles. Volunteers will help prepare and serve food in coordination with About My Father’s Business, councilman Bob Blumenfield, and other local organizations. Register to volunteer. 

Panel Discussion: Medical Care for the Unhoused

Thursday, November 21 | 4 PM to 5:30 PM | The Light House or Zoom

CES will host subject-matter experts to discuss the intricacies of giving medical care to those experiencing homelessness. What level of care is possible when helping someone who is unhoused and uninsured? What unique medical situations arise when caring for the unhoused? How can we improve the care that those experiencing homelessness receive? What can the Pepperdine community do to help unhoused individuals receive medical care? Register to attend.

Panelist include:

• Loan Pham Kim - Seaver College professor of nutritional science
• Kelly Brown - community information officer at Interface Children and Family Services in Ventura County
• Traci Holt - EMS/MRC program administrator for the Ventura County EMS Agency
• Jaime Lopez - Cal AIM Community Supports program manager at St. John's Community Health Homeless Healthcare Services

Information Session: Food Waste and Recovery

Friday, November 22 | Noon to 1 PM | The Fireside Room

CES will partner with FoodRecovery.org and Pepperdine’s Food Recovery Network to discuss the state of food waste at Pepperdine and in the greater community. Lunch will be provided to all attendees. Register to attend.