“Last year I moved back to LA after being in Chicago for the last eight years. 26 years old with no job, no church, no prospects. Luckily I saw the church with the rainbow sign a block away from my new apartment and decided to give it a try.

What I found was a community committed to the radical compassion and justice that Jesus modeled. I found new friendships within the Young Adults Small Group and Community Advocacy Team, but still felt an itch to serve the larger LA community. I share the belief that everyone should have access to housing, healthcare, and other basic necessities, regardless of background or circumstance, so when Ellen Agee roped me into starting the PATH Cooks Ministry back up with her, I knew it was God opening a new door for me.

PATH Cooks meets the first Thursday of each month to prepare dinner and enjoy a fresh home cooked meal with some people experiencing homelessness. Together, Westwood UMC volunteers build community with one another and residents at the PATH facility in West LA. It’s a great way to make new friends, sharpen cooking skills, and practice compassion while living out your faith in action.

I have personally found that serving the unhoused population is some of the most life giving and fulfilling work that I have had the privilege of participating in, so I would highly recommend it for everyone!”