Riverside, Calif. (April 3, 2019) – Hundreds of students at California Baptist University lined up along Stamps Courtyard and packed some 200 boxes filled with non-perishable foods on April 2. The packing event was an effort to aid the Children’s Hunger Fund, a nonprofit organization that provides food to children and families through local churches.

The boxes consisted of pinto beans, rice, canned vegetables, canned fruit, tomato sauce, spaghetti, canned tuna, oatmeal and ramen.

Compassion Ministries in Spiritual Life at CBU organized the event. Julie Dobbins, director of compassion and women’s ministries, said her office seeks to create opportunities for students to work with organizations that offer aid to the CBU community.  

Dobbins noted that events like these are tangible ways to share the Gospel’s message.

Klyde Subijano, a pre-nursing freshman, said he participated because of his own background battling poverty while growing up in the Philippines.

“I have seen people less fortunate that couldn’t fend for themselves. I love that CBU provides the opportunity for me to be able to help people out,” Subijano said.

Sierra Pounds, an environmental science freshman, said she was thrilled to participate in the event.  

“It is our responsibility as Christians to go out and help other people. It’s important that we have events like this on campus so people like myself and my peers can give back,” Pounds said.

Arryianna Thomas, a pre-nursing freshman, said the boxes show that CBU cares.

“It makes me happy that these boxes will make children happy. The event goes along with loving your neighbor by helping others,” Thomas said.