Westview Young Life joined with the Ladle Fellowship, a food distribution organization, to serve meals and clothes to San Diego’s unhoused community at the First Presbyterian Church in downtown San Diego, Oct 8. Bob Klein, the Westview Young Life leader and a Westview football coach, said that in the approximate 15 times Westview Young Life has worked with Ladle over the last two years, more than 150 Westview students have served in the food and clothing distribution.
Westview Young Life, Klein says, provides students with the encouragement and security to interact with and help the people outside their circle of Rancho Peñasquitos. He said he hopes to have more student members join Westview Young Life and the Young Life Club, which will involve meetings with games, pizza, singing, and religious discussion.
“Here at Westview, we live in a pretty nice part of the city, but there are lots of hurting people in San Diego,” Klein said. “A lot of students haven’t gotten this close to unhoused people, so there’s a certain apprehension about doing that. Here [at the First Presbyterian Church] is a place that’s safe, and Westview Young Life is a school organization that helps support the students.”
Klein said that the members of Westview Young Life often work alongside football, cheer, and lacrosse teams at community service events. These opportunities allow the athletes, like Gavin Donnelly (9), to help the unhoused community of San Diego and make new connections with other students. This month, he packaged meals of soup, bread, and salad in the church’s kitchen with three other football players and Young Life members.
“We were all given tasks to help,” Donnelly said. “Some of us bagged food and passed it out, some distributed clothes, some brought around water, and some even helped with giving haircuts. It’s self-fulfilling because [helping with the Ladle Fellowship] makes you feel like you’ve something important.”
Donnelly participated in the event for the second time alongside Westview students, Young Life leaders, Ladle Fellowship members, and local volunteers. Donnelly first learned about Westview Young life through his football coach, Klein, at football summer camp. He helped with the Ladle Fellowship over the summer for the first time and said he gained satisfaction from helping others and staying active in his community, which inspired him to serve again this month.
“I like to get out of the house and do something productive,” Donnelly said. “It’s just a fun thing to do with friends or family to make memories. The Young Life events have helped me meet more Westview students and have brought me closer to them. I also love just seeing people react because they are genuinely thankful for what we’re doing.”
This year, 10,264 individuals were counted experiencing homelessness in San Diego by the 2023 WeAllCount Point-in-Time Count, portraying an increase of at least 14% from last year. Although the lack of stable housing is an increasingly large issue to tackle, Westview Young Life and the Ladle Fellowship are doing their part to help others in the way they can. This month, they succeeded in providing meals, clothing, haircuts, blankets, medical care, toiletries, and a safe, welcoming space for more than 100 people. Their supplies rely on the donations of volunteers.
Young Life is a Christian ministry that has collaborated with Westview, as well as several middle schools, high schools, and universities across the country and worldwide. Klein said that he’s excited to have Young Life present in Westview since he joined Young Life as a sophomore in high school, and the organization brought together people from several different backgrounds, faiths, and races. He made memories from fun get-togethers to regular community service opportunities. After meeting with the Ladle Fellowship, Klein decided that the soup kitchen would be perfect for Westview students looking to help their community.
“I came [to the First Presbyterian Church] and served [in the soup kitchen] once, and knew this would be a great place for Westview students to see the needs in our city and have an opportunity to do something that makes a difference,” Klein said.
In addition to receiving community service hours, the students learn what it is like to serve their community.
“You’re caring about somebody besides yourself and touching a need in our city,” Klein said. “And one of the ways you can do that is to come serve with a group like Ladle.”
Donnelly said he will continue to participate in activities that positively impact the San Diego community. A small contribution, he says, can make someone’s day a little better.
“It just makes me feel good that I can help someone out,” Donnelly said. “Through these events, I learned how to better my community. I know that not everyone can provide for themselves, but I can see how thankful people are for the help. I’m just happy that I’m able to lend a hand to people in need.”
