Azusa Pacific is a “God First” university located just a few miles from the bright lights of Los Angeles. Though L.A. is a prime location for a robust college experience, nearly 60,000 of its residents are currently homeless or struggling with homelessness. A recent census revealed that the homeless population in the community of Azusa is around 320, a dramatic increase from the 23 homeless population reported in 2015. Christian students at APU are challenged by their faith to help the less fortunate, and it seems they don’t need to look far to do so.
Many students at APU feel called to take action in an effort to alleviate homelessness and spread the gospel to down-and-out members of their community. However, many others struggle getting involved due to the lack of awareness of the resources they have available to them. Students with the heart of a good Samaritan, as described in Luke 10 of the Bible, need only the opportunity to serve, and this article aims to help them find a few ways to do so.
Center for Student Action
The Local Engagement branch of the Center for Student Action is a great place for APU students to start. The “Experience L.A.” program immerses students in the beautifully diverse and complex city APU calls home. A major component of the three-day outreach is community service. Organizations like Midnight Mission and Union Rescue Mission on skid row have partnered with APU to provide an opportunity for students to volunteer by distributing meals and participating in other wellness programs they offer.
APU has other ways students can serve. On Oct. 25, APU will hold a canned food drive competition called “Cougars CAN.” Students, alumni and faculty have the opportunity to form teams to bring at least 25 canned food items to a “can-struction” event to compete for prizes. All the collected food will be distributed to local food pantries and church ministries.
APU is also in the early stages of developing a community garden — an on-campus garden purposed with providing fresh produce for those without access to it. The majority of homeless people are forced to live off of cheap, unhealthy meals. The campus garden will provide healthier options for those who need it most through donations.
Austin Welty, the local mobilization coordinator for the CSA office, firmly believes in the programs APU has partnered with. Welty has found the most impactful interactions students have with the homeless come through learning about the issue at the macro level. Students can begin to understand the root causes of homelessness and circumstances that often lead to it. Coming into close contact with those who have been marginalized by society dramatically impacts their worldview, especially if they develop a relationship with them.
“The homeless are people,” said Welty. “At the end of the day, there are going to be programs that exist to provide some of their basic needs, but you can provide a relationship to them where they feel like someone actually cares about their circumstances once you hear their story.”
Local Church Ministries
The majority of local churches have opportunities for homeless outreaches in the Azusa community. The homeless are deprived of basic shelter and often struggle to have enough food and clothing to sustain themselves. Foothill Community Church has an ongoing ministry called Clothing Closet. Students can direct attention to homeless residents who are in need of warm clothing and make other resources accessible to them. Christ Church of the Valley in San Dimas has partnered with God’s Pantry, an organization dedicated to sharing the gospel by providing homeless families with meals. Cornerstone Bible Church in Glendora has also partnered with an ongoing food ministry called Shepherd’s Pantry which serves the local homeless population. Because homelessness is such a prevalent issue in the L.A. community, almost every church in the area can help students get connected and serve.
Get Creative
Students are always encouraged to volunteer at organizations who are wholly dedicated to reaching the homeless on a consistent basis, but there’s no right or wrong way to get involved. Anyone who feels called to use their talents or passions to serve is encouraged to find a creative way to do so. Welty cites a story of a young hairstylist who volunteered at a local church’s homeless ministry, providing haircuts for people who couldn’t afford them.
He often asks students, “How can [you] be creative in a way that combines [your] individual skills, talents and passions and also meets the needs of someone [you] wouldn’t think of off the top of [your] head?” Whether making clothes, cooking homemade meals or cutting hair, anyone can help someone in need with a little creativity.
Welty encourages those who do not choose to serve to at least take the time to educate themselves.
“The more that people are familiar with the resources their city offers homeless, the more they can serve in that capacity and direct homeless to those resources,” said Welty. Students who are incapable of aiding the homeless should certainly be aware of programs that are capable of doing so. In that way, students can be one step closer to being a “Coug Samaritan.”