A Visit to the Midnight Mission: Helping Others, Helping Ourselves

Since our previous community service events have had such great turnouts, the Department of Volunteer and Career Services wanted to plan an opportunity for staff and participants to join forces. Recently, we were fortunate to get a volunteer shift with the Midnight Mission on Skid Row and assist with lunch service and dinner preparations. The Midnight Mission, now in its 100th year, works with the homeless of downtown Los Angeles.

This event was the perfect opportunity for all of us to experience an entirely different environment, one that would also allow our participants to work on DBT Distress Tolerance skills (ACCEPTS) and Mindfulness skills (“What” and “How”). Volunteering on behalf of homeless persons also aligns with 12-step work of being of service, which is essential to recovery.

Our time at the Midnight Mission combined service with learning as we observed people from all walks of life who struggle daily with a variety of problems. It also gave us a chance to strengthen bonds within the OPI community. We were able to work on teamwork skills, boost motivation, and allow staff and participants to become better acquainted. On the way home, we stopped for a quick lunch and an opportunity to process our experiences. The group decided that another staff/participant event definitely should be scheduled, so stay tuned to see where Team OPI lands next.