06/18/2026
**Service Day 3 ❤️**
Today we served at Hope Center, a place where unhoused community members can shop free of charge for clothing and toiletries and receive a meal (or two, depending on the day).
Our youth jumped right in, sorting clothes, prepping food, washing dishes, serving meals, organizing donations, and even going through the freezer to remove expired food. It was a powerful experience for all of us.
Earlier in the day, while sorting donations, we found a Barbie doll in one of the boxes and placed it on the free shelf for anyone to take. Later, while serving food, a little girl—probably about five years old—hobbled in wearing one shoe and proudly carrying that Barbie. After getting her meal, she spent the next ten minutes smiling ear to ear and playfully giving our youth “I’m watching you” fingers from across the room. Her joy was contagious, and before long she had all of us smiling right back.
It was a bittersweet moment and a powerful reminder that joy is not always found in having much. Here was a little girl with the clothes on her back and a Barbie doll, yet she carried one of the biggest smiles in the room. In many ways, she ministered to us as much as we served her.
During our group reflection time later, we talked about how we can continue to accompany others when we return home. Our youth shared that it means listening to people whose experiences we may not understand, showing up for others, being a safe space for peers, leading by example in their faith journey, and sharing God's love through everyday actions.
Today reminded us that service is not just about what we give, it's also about being open to what God teaches us through the people we meet.
