Volunteers in yellow vests line up neatly along both sides of a conveyor belt. As empty boxes move down the line, quick hands fill them with food items. Their focused expressions reflect dedication and passion—these are members of ASEZ STAR (the Church of God Student Volunteer Group), spending their school break volunteering to pack groceries.
On July 24, about 40 ASEZ STAR members from Los Angeles and six other branches visited a local food bank to pack food boxes for distribution to vulnerable community members. The food bank, a nonprofit organization that receives donated food and delivers it to underserved individuals and welfare facilities, relies on a steady flow of volunteers to operate efficiently.
Before work began, a food bank staff member explained important guidelines for packing, and the volunteers listened attentively. Taking their positions along the line, the members packed a total of 532 boxes over the course of two and a half hours.
A food bank representative expressed appreciation, saying, “Thank you so much for taking the time to come out and help. It’s wonderful to see volunteers come together with the heart to serve their neighbors.” Melody Gonzalez (17), a member of ASEZ STAR, shared, “It felt very rewarding to spend my break doing something meaningful and helping others. I hope to participate in even more volunteer activities.”