by Macade Maxwell

Every Thursday, St. John Bosco High School students and staff are given the opportunity to showcase their selfless acts and represent Don Bosco’s oratory model by serving those who are in need at the Los Angeles Catholic Worker’s Hospitality Kitchen.  

For over 20 years, Bosco representatives have been continuously uniting with the Los Angeles Catholic Worker to help out the homeless community in the Los Angeles’ “skid row” area by helping serve and prepare healthy and hearty meals. During this time, students and staff have been determined to give back to those who are struggling most out of the kindness of their hearts. 

“You see many people there who don’t get paid for this and want to make a difference in these communities,” said Dean of Academics Mrs. Elizabeth Hunt, who helps organized Bosco’s partnership with the Hospitality Kitchen. “They see the needs of the people and try their best to meet their needs.” 

Mrs. Hunt elaborated on how the Hospitality Kitchen helps her get out of her comfort zone and be able to see the impact that she makes on people. She also mentioned the importance of having a healthy homecooked meal to eat. 

Unfortunately, people have stereotypes in their heads about homeless people and the way that they live on a daily basis. Volunteering, however, at the Hospitality Kitchen helps our Bosco family move beyond those stereotypes to see the humanity of those who have the least among us.

“It gets rid of a lot of the misconceptions that we have of the people who are homeless. We think that they only eat junk or digging out of trash cans, and they actually have standards for themselves,” said Mrs. Hunt.

Students and staff who attend are exposed to what life is like outside of their more privileged circumstances. Experiencing the lifestyles of the homeless is an eye-opener and reminds us Braves to be grateful for the things we have. 

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, those who work and help out in the kitchen were forced to change their ways of serving meals. But that didn’t stop them from being involved in the community. They are now required to have all food prepared ahead of time. This is where students play a huge role in the kitchen by lending an extra hand and preparing food. 

“There’s only so much that we can do and being able to contribute that little bit makes such a huge difference,” said Mrs. Hunt. 

The Hospitality Kitchen needs as many volunteers as possible who are looking for a humbling and rewarding learning experience. 

As the organizer of this partnership between Bosco and the Catholic Worker, Mrs. Hunt is very passionate about helping out those who are in need in our greater community of Los Angeles. She strongly encourages people to reach out to her via email at ehunt@bosco.org if they are interested in helping spread God’s love through this service opportunity.