PILT's core team began our journey of community service at the Albert Einstein Academies (AEA). The elementary school was the birthplace of connections and inspiration, and the progression to AEACMS, the middle school, brought us even further. The AEA community has taught us how to take action for a cause, and teachers/students/staff continue to deepen our understanding of the world around us. With the support of the Associated Student Body (ASB), we have led multiple projects at AEACMS, including a nonperishable food drive for PATH San Diego's clients, a volunteer activity at PATH's downtown facility to serve lunch to interim housing residents, and two fundraisers to continue giving as we do.
We are extremely grateful for the AEA community for supporting our organization, especially to principal Dr. Jose Diaz, for allowing these PILTers to do their projects to help serve those facing food and housing insecurity.
The strong team at AEACMS was led in from 22–24 by current CEO & Director of Outreach, Minori Groene, and was led in the 24–25 school year by PILT'S Executive Committee member, X and Facebook manager Arturo Basilio, supported by Emeli. Eden, and Keila. Collectively they have done bake sales, pizza sales, presentations, and more to help out their community!
This year, we do not have any active members at AEACMS, but we hope to build a team at our beloved school in the coming academic year.
2021-2022 Food Drive
The ASB, under the advisory of Dr. Jose Diaz, collected and donated 178 lbs of non-perishable food items to PATH San Diego's interim housing site.
2022-2023 Fall Fundraiser
Led by Minori and under the advisory of Ms. Megan Holbrook, AEA ASB helped raise the initial deposit to open our bank account.
2022-2023 Spring Volunteering
Minori and a group of AEA 7th graders volunteered to serve lunch to PATH San Diego's interim housing residents - an activity that brought them a lot of joy.
2022-2023 Spring Fundraiser
Under Minori's leadership, and assisted by Josephine (PILT lead @ AEA Elementary), Nicolo, and Lana, the AEA team held a Krispy Kreme fundraiser to further our mission.
2023-2024 Spring Volunteering
PILT activities for 2024 started with Minori, Nicolo, and Anya spending some time at PATH San Diego's permanent supportive housing site, "Connections." They helped organize the donation closet that was teeming with holiday donations.
2023-2024 Spring Fundraiser
To support PILT's new partnership with the YMCA's TAY Support Services, Minori, Genesis, Xavier, and Elsa held a Krispy Kreme donut fundraiser to purchase hygiene supplies for youth transitioning out of foster care.
2024-2025 Fall Pizza Sale for Sharia's Closet
Arturo, Eden, Emeli, and other volunteers at AEACMS hosted a pizza sale after school. With the profits, they bought clothes for Sharia’s Closet.
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2024–2025 Hygiene Products for YMCA HOY
The team at AEACMS hosted another pizza sale, this time in order to restock YMCA HOY’s hygiene cabinet.
2024–2025 Presentations
For a week, Arturo and his team presented to math classes in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade to raise awareness about homelessness and what you can do to support your neighbors.
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2024–2025 Heart-Project
After the presentations, the students were instructed to write what they could do to help their community in drawn hearts. The hearts were then hung up in the MPR.
The Einstein Post (March Edition)
Article by Genesis
