Community Engagement: Shepherd’s Pantry

The closest Shepherd’s Pantry’s locations are in Glendora and Irwindale. APU students typically serve at the Glendora location once a week in three hour shifts. Students help distribute food, organize inventory, and do administrative work arranging other resources including haircuts and job fairs. “We are working on the physical aspect of faith in action where students can serve locally,” said Joseph Hsieh, a junior kinesiology major and OSD Local Engagement intern. “Because we live and go to school in Azusa, we enjoy showing love to the community through our service.”

While serving at a food pantry is not an inherently spiritual opportunity, student volunteers have found ways to incorporate and share their faith. “It was an enlightening experience to work alongside so many different people, listen to their stories, and help them with their clothing or food needs,” Jenna Passke, a senior design major and marketing minor said. “It was nice to see how we can spread the Gospel in a setting that you wouldn’t normally think of. We serve more than food, we serve kindness, faith, and the love of God through our interactions with the community.”

Local Engagement opportunities allow students to gain a new perspective on what it means to serve.

Volunteering led me to realize the blessings that I have and how service is a cornerstone of Christian faith,” Passke said. “It’s a good way to engage with compassion and it’s extremely rewarding. One small act of kindness can turn into something bigger if you work with a great team and community.

As an intern, Hsieh interacts with the volunteers and hears their powerful testimonies. “What is most rewarding about my job is hearing stories from other students who are able to impactfully engage with the community,” he said. “The people that we serve are very appreciative of the work and time that APU students put into the program as well as the relationships we foster.”

To get involved with Shepherd’s Pantry, Hsieh recommends emailing [email protected] or visiting the OSD website. “It’s a great local community opportunity to start serving those around you,” he said. Passke also encouraged students to sign up to help. “OSD is always looking for volunteers, and there is alway something you can do to help,” she said. “Shepherd’s Pantry constantly takes donations. If you have items that you don’t want or need anymore, it would be great to donate them because they are going to families, kids, and other people in the community that really need them.”