Impact Your Local Community This Step Forward Day
On Saturday, September 6, 2025, from 9 AM to 3 PM, students, faculty, staff, and alumni are invited to participate in Pepperdine University’s annual day of giving, Step Forward Day. Established in 1988 by two Seaver College students, the event has evolved into a nationwide initiative, where Waves from all corners of the country come together to support local nonprofits and community organizations.
This year a total of 36 service projects have been arranged both on campus and across Los Angeles. On-campus, volunteers can assemble hygiene kits for local unhoused communities, pack backpacks with school supplies for elementary school-aged children, and participate in the Jared Box Project, which involves assembling activity kits for kids in local children’s hospitals. Additionally, Pepperdine has partnered with a number of organizations for off-campus projects, including the LA Food Bank, Hope the Mission, Manna Conejo Valley Food Bank, Urban Promise Los Angeles, and Best Friends animal society.
As part of a new element of Step Forward Day this year, participants are encouraged to bring at least one canned food item to donate to Manna Conejo, a food bank that supports families across the Conejo Valley. Collection tables around the amphitheater will be available for donations the morning of the event.
Manna Conejo’s most-needed food items at this time include:
- Coffee or tea
- Boxed mashed potatoes
- Canned meat – chicken or spam
- Flavored rice – Rice-A-Roni
- Canned pasta sauce
- Shelf-stable drinks – juice, gatorade, etc.
- Canned refried beans
- Canned chili
- Toilet paper, paper towels, or tissue
- Condiments – mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, etc.
Students, faculty, and staff can sign up to volunteer for Step Forward Day on the Community Engagement and Service webpage. Alumni can find projects in their area on the Alumni Step Forward Day website.