Pepperdine's Hub for Spiritual Life Hosts Community Events for Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week

In observance of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, Pepperdine University’s Community Engagement and Service (CES) branch within the Hub for Spiritual Life will host a series of events from Monday, November 17, to Friday, November 21, 2025. Recognized by academic institutions and community organizations nationwide, the annual campaign raises awareness for those experiencing food and housing insecurity.

Sponsored by the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness, the initiative was originally established in 1975 at Villanova University in Pennsylvania. The campaign has grown across the country and aims to inspire communities to unite and rally support for anti-poverty organizations.

“This weeklong campaign is an opportunity to embody the Christian principles on which Pepperdine was founded—to prepare students to be servant leaders rooted in faith and character,” says Christin Shatzer Román (’03), director of community engagement and service at Pepperdine. “It is our responsibility to educate our University community about the challenges faced by thousands of individuals and to recognize that homelessness and food insecurity exist right here in our own backyard. Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week invites Pepperdine faculty, staff, and students to support communities in need and discover meaningful ways to become agents of change.”

For Seaver College student Joshua Lau, who also served as a student coordinator for Hunger and Homeless Awareness week’s “Healthcare for Vulnerable Communities” panel, his previous work with Westminster Clinic and Food Share opened his eyes to the many individuals experiencing homelessness and food insecurity who lack access to basic resources. Inspired by these encounters, Lau began researching the underlying issues, family dynamics, and cultural factors that contribute to homelessness. He believes that sharing stories and educating the public is the first step toward addressing this growing crisis across Southern California.

“Pepperdine's mission statement emphasizes purpose, service, and leadership and Hunger and Homelessness Awareness week is a special opportunity to practice all three,” shared Lau. “Students leave with a new awareness of the issue through our panels and tabling events and receive clear next steps on how they can make an impact through our large catalog of service projects.I hope that this week inspires students to be more service oriented here at Pepperdine or in their own diverse communities.”

The entire Pepperdine community is encouraged to participate in the events surrounding the week long awareness campaign. Featured below are a few highlighted events.

Hunger Resources Info Session

Tuesday, November 18 | 1 to 2 PM | Location HAWC

The Pepperdine community is invited to join a meaningful conversation on food insecurity in the University’s surrounding areas. Attendees will learn about local organizations working to combat hunger and discover volunteer opportunities to serve those in need. Complimentary lunch will be provided. Register to attend.

Panel Discussion: Healthcare for Vulnerable Communities

4:30 to 6 PM | Fireside Room

Learn from subject-matter experts how vital community initiatives are providing essential medical care for the unhoused population. Attendees will gain insight into best care practices, explore volunteer opportunities, and better understand the ongoing needs of this community. Dinner will be provided. Register to attend.

Breakfast in a Food Desert

Wednesday, November 19 | 9:30 to 10:30 AM | AC 224

CES will partner with Pepperdine’s Nourish Club and the Natural Science Division's nutrition department for an informational and gastronomic event about food deserts—low-income areas in which it is difficult to access healthy food. Participants will be cooking and eating two different meals—one produced from food found in food deserts and the other produced from an area of food abundance. There will be informational materials and free food for all attendees. Register to attend.

Panel Discussion: The Christian Response to Hunger and Homelessness

12:30 to 1:45 PM | Fireside Room

CES will host church leaders, theologians, and nonprofit leaders to discuss the role of Christians in the response to hunger and homelessness. Lunch will be provided. Register to attend.

Panel Discussion: Intersections of Hunger and Homelessness

Thursday, November 20 | 4 to 5:30 PM | Fireside Room

CES will host subject-matter experts who will speak to the intersections of food and housing insecurity in greater Los Angeles County. How can one form of insecurity lead to another? How and in what ways are hunger and homelessness inextricably linked? How can organizations today fighting hunger and homelessness better serve their community with a knowledge of how these two basic necessities—food and shelter—interact? Register to attend.

In addition to these presentations, CES will be hosting service projects at multiple campus locations (West Los Angeles, Calabasas, and Malibu) where Pepperdine employees and students are invited to assemble hygiene kits that will be distributed to local homeless communities. There will also be a pre-Thanksgiving campus food drive available at the Malibu and Calabasas campuses to collect nonperishable food items to donate to Manna Conejo Food Bank and Food Share. Donation bins will be placed in several locations across campus as well as in all on-campus housing facilities. All donations will be collected by Friday, November 21, afternoon.

For more information, visit the Hub for Spiritual Life CES calendar.