Your Ideas

Welcome Door Foundation - Outreach to Homeless Persons

Pacific Beach United Methodist Church
San Diego, CA

Pacific Beach United Methodist Church remembers that when Jesus' disciples came to him and said, "Dismiss the crowds, they¹ll be getting hungry," Jesus said, "They don¹t need to go away, YOU give them something to eat." (Matthew 14:13-21)

Every Wednesday evening at 5:30 pm, a free meal is served to hungry and homeless people. The food is donated from various sources, and volunteers set up, serve, and clean up. The number of guests ranges from 75 to 150 people (men, women, and children).

In addition to the meal, PB UMC is host to free medical and dental clinics operated by UCSD. Acupuncture is offered by the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. Guests sign up to see a practitioner as they enter the social hall for the meal.

Our goal is for our guests to experience caring community, to eat a nutritious meal, and to tend to their health needs. A brief meditation and prayer is offered between first and second servings of the meal.

A partnership has also been established with the Welcome Door Foundation. The Welcome Door Foundation is a San Diego-based 501.C.3 non-profit organization, using a brand new approach to provide healing for the homeless in the Pacific Beach area and its surrounding communities. The Welcome Door Foundation is organized to offer a unique, compassionate environment to the chronically homeless, one which promotes self-healing and provides the basis for learning responsibility, gaining skills, and pursuing new beginnings. Pacific Beach United Methodist Church appreciates Welcome Door's many contributions to its ongoing homeless ministry. For more information, visit the Welcome Door web site.