Our Efforts

Explore the events we've hosted, each leaving a lasting imprint on our community and aligning with our mission to alleviate homelessness.

MLK Service Event w/ UCI COVP - Winter 2025

On a bright Monday morning, BAM members joined over 900 volunteers from UCI organizations and the local community at the OC Food Bank in Garden Grove to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. At this event, hosted by UCI’s Campus Organizations and Volunteer Programs (COVP), we packed food boxes for senior citizens in Orange County, contributing to the fight against food insecurity! We participated in a conference afterward to discuss the issue of food insecurity and reflect on Dr. King’s lifelong dedication to service. We are so honored to partner with COVP for this rewarding and fulfilling event, as this day was filled with gratitude which united us to make a difference in our community.

OC Rescue Mission - Fall 2024

For our final service event of the quarter, BAM members volunteered at the Orange County Rescue Mission’s Village of Hope. Village of Hope is a transitional and emergency housing program that serves over 200 homeless families, including human trafficking survivors. This program provides counseling services, job training, and medical care to residents, allowing them to heal and achieve self-sufficiency. During this event, BAM played an integral part in food preparation and clean up for the residents. As they split into small groups, members were delegated tasks such as peeling and cutting vegetables, maintaining clean workstations, and serving prepared food to the residents. After their work, members thoroughly cleaned the kitchen, wiping down counters and sweeping floors. We are deeply grateful to be a part of such a meaningful and fulfilling cause, marking the perfect end of the Fall quarter.

BAM x SOY UCI Tour - Fall 2024

BAM members welcomed middle school students from Save Our Youth (SOY) to UCI for a campus tour! SOY is a non-profit that supports over 12,000 at-risk youth in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, empowering them to develop new skills and set meaningful goals for academic and professional success. During the tour, BAM members gave an in-depth tour of the campus—from the dormitories to the iconic Aldrich Park—they shared their favorite spots for studying and people-watching. They also offered college advice and words of encouragement to showcase higher education's possibilities, hoping to inspire these students to be excited about their future!

Jingle Bags for PATH OC - Fall 2024

To commemorate this holiday season, BAM members collaborated to create over 50 “Jingle Bags” for residents at Path OC. Path OC is a non-profit organization dedicated to ending homelessness across more than 150 cities in California. They partner with landlords, medical facilities, and non-profit organizations to provide comprehensive support for those in need. These Jingle Bags were filled with essentials like body wipes, hygiene kits, and hand warmers to help residents stay comfortable during the colder months. BAM members also wrote warm and empowering notes to encourage and uplift Path OC residents, reminding them they are not alone and wishing them a happy holiday season filled with hope.

BAM x TechUp Workshop - Fall 2024

TechUp, a non-profit program committed to increasing digital literacy for low-income populations and older adults, partnered with BAM to host a workshop teaching senior citizens essential computer skills. BAM members worked hands-on with the seniors, covering topics such as setting up email accounts, using search engines to look up information, navigating websites, discerning between advertisements, and accessing the internet safely. With their guidance, we hope the seniors gain the confidence to navigate and engage with the digital world.

Mary's Kitchen - Fall 2024

BAM members joined forces with Mary’s Kitchen, a non-profit organization that addresses food insecurity and promotes sustainability. One of their operations is a food rescue mobile pop-up, which prevents food waste by rescuing surplus food from grocery outlets and distributing it to families in need. At this event, BAM members unloaded trucks filled with supplies, groceries, and fresh produce, organizing the items for packing and distribution.

Friendship Shelter - Fall 2024

For our Week 5 service event, BAM members gathered at the Friendship Shelter in Laguna Beach to cook up a taco bar for the residents. Friendship Shelter, founded in 1988, is a nonprofit organization that works to end homelessness in the South OC area by providing housing (temporary and permanent), financial assistance, and housing navigation to individuals. We were so grateful to return to the Friendship Shelter on such an uplifting Saturday, as members worked together to serve plates of freshly homemade tacos to residents with a beautiful ocean view!

HUB OC - Fall 2024

For our Week 4 service event, BAM volunteered at the HUB OC, an organization dedicated to meeting the physical, relational, and emotional needs of communities in Orange County. By providing free after-school care, resources for homeless individuals, and mentorship, HUB OC aims to address the life cycle challenges faced by at-risk families and youth, helping them transition from unhealthy cycles of poverty and instability to successful future opportunities. Through this event, BAM members organized donations, sorted through mail, and distributed essential health items to local residents!

CAPOC (Community Action Partnership of OC) - Fall 2024

To kickstart our first service event of the school year, our BAM members packed over 1,800 boxes for low-income senior citizens in Orange County. We partnered with Community Action Partnership of Orange County (CAPOC), an organization dedicated to eradicating poverty in the county by providing family support programs, food assistance, and other essential resources to support individuals who are currently struggling. It was an inspiring way to start off our quarter, as our members worked together seamlessly to not only create a positive impact in our community but also nurture a sense of community and purpose within each other. We are excited to carry this energy forward into our future events!

SOY College Bound Meet - Fall 2024

This past month, BAM members teamed up with members from FCP to participate in a panel at SOY for high school juniors and seniors. Our panel of 11 students, representing a wide range of majors, answered questions about the college experience, including how it differs from high school, tips for applying, choosing the right major, and class selection. Through open discussions, we hope these conversations served as valuable guidance for the next generation of college-bound students to confidently navigate their academic journey!

Friendship Shelter - Spring 2024

For our Week 6 service event, BAM members headed over to Friendship Shelter, a non-profit homeless services agency in the local Orange County area, committed to ending homelessness. They offer a variety of programs and services that are grounded in a “housing-first and harm reduction” approach. Through their values and goals, Friendship Shelter works to serve their residents, valuing their individuality and ultimately making a positive difference in their lives. BAM members contributed to their service by cooking up a delicious plate of spaghetti for the residents of Friendship Shelter!

Advocacy Posts

At By Any Means, one of our primary objectives is to foster a positive impact within our community. An integral aspect of realizing this goal is through the dissemination of knowledge. Explore the advocacy posts below to gain insights into the issue of homelessness and join us in our mission to create awareness and understanding.