Riverside, Calif. (April 6, 2018) – Hundreds of students gathered at Stamps Courtyard at California Baptist University to pack more than 500 boxes of food for needy families on April 5. Compassion Ministries in the Office of Spiritual Life at CBU organized the event to aid the Children’s Hunger Fund.

The hunger fund is a gospel-centered mercy ministry that provides balanced food options for families across America and throughout the world. The group distributes the food through churches to help bridge relationships with families and their local church. The boxes included non-perishable food items such as beans, oatmeal, pasta and canned vegetables. Each box contained enough food to feed a family for a week.

Julie Dobbins, director of Compassion and Women’s Ministries at CBU, said partnering with Children’s Hunger Fund helps meet people’s physical needs.

“It is an amazing opportunity for students to be a part of helping families by giving their time to pack a box and pray for the family who will receive it,” Dobbins said.

Giovanna Dinata, a political science freshman, said she appreciates that CBU offers various opportunities to serve the community.

“It’s fun and it impacts other people,” said Dinata of the packing event. “I can help out and know that people are actually going to use these items and I got to be a little part of that.”

Danyella Wilder, a journalism junior, said events like this help remind her to think of the needs of others.  

“We’re so focused on our needs as students, but this helps us to remember that whole families need the love of Christ and we can show that by packing a box,” Wilder said.