Since the homeless community has been in the news in Los Angeles because of some care providers discharging homeless patients onto Skid Row streets, members of the Hollywood Spanish Church thought it would be a good idea to reach out to Skid Row homeless people to make them feel loved and cared for.

The members responded by organizing more than 100 of the church’s young people to cook a warm meal and make peanut butter sandwiches enough to serve 200 homeless people. The primary focus was more than just giving food. It was to send a message of love and care. The outreach provided special blessings for the church members as well as for the people they helped.

“Catch 21,” a local restaurant donated the use of their large parking structure and tables for the meal. The church served more than 200, giving each person a Bible as well. To follow up, church members planned to organize a monthly community mission project, with “Christmas en el Barrio” scheduled on Christmas weekend as the next of the community outreaches. For that program, members presented a Christmas drama, piñatas, led in singing carols and distributed 400 toys.

The 200 gifts planned for the community children were donated by Univision Radio and other donors. “Both youth and adults in our church were excited about the plans and about the toys that poured in. The youth and adults are excited to do this type of community evangelism project,” a spokesman reported.

“Our experience was very positive," said youth leader Janet Santamaria. "We got to see people in their need and to help them. It was just a plate of food that we gave them, but they had smiles on their faces because the gift was very meaningful to them. They were very grateful.”

In three preceding community projects the church had conducted, 150 people made contact with the church. Members followed up with Bible studies. We believe that this type of community evangelism is a big net to attract people of our local community in Los Angeles, and it has worked. We thank God for all He has done and will continue to do, as we share the blessed hope of the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.