April Blog

April was a month of recruiting during our spring outreach session. Aya and Minori contacted all schools in San Diego County, asking to support our cause of helping people experiencing homelessness through a project. We’re launching into May with a presentation for students at St. Columba Catholic School. Aya, Minori, and Nicolo will be presenting about PILT as an organization, homelessness, supporting our communities, and youth leadership. We’re hoping to get the middle schoolers involved and enthusiastic about supporting their community members. 

The Assistant Principal at SET High School got back to Minori and is currently planning a tour and service at PATH Connections. May 1st is Annual SET High Service Day and they decided that helping those experiencing homelessness is a must to address in our community. 

To improve and increase our district and county-wide impact, we’ll incorporate fall outreach as another focus to thoroughly plan projects with schools and clubs.

Along the lines of awareness-raising, Josephine (AEACES) will be presenting about community to her fellow Girl. During her presentation, she will encourage other members to join in on our cause and set up various drives, such as clothing, hygiene products, and food drives in their schools.

After Albert Einstein Academies Charter Middle School had a successful sale selling Tostilocos with various topics and Caprisuns during March, they’re already planning the next sale. This fundraiser is planned to go toward PILT. Due to their hard work as middle school graduating PILTers, they will be wearing custom stools at graduation, designed by Eden.

Academy of Our Lady of Peace, a new partner school, is currently having its first-ever PILT project. Malia and Esli are hosting a clothing drive, with all donations going towards Sharia’s Closet. The drive will continue until the end of the school year. Sophie completed a donation drive at Helix Charter High School and donated the hygiene products to YMCA HOY. Her photo is attached to the blog.

Anya had a fundraiser at East Village Middle College High School and made a total profit of $125. She and her friends will purchase the items in highest demand at YMCA TAY and will donate them. Community Outreach at San Diego High School also hosted fundraisers. One of the sales’ profits went towards their hoodie project, which they are proud to say that they completed! The second pizza sale, partnered with Empowerment Club who support kids with cancer, went to supplying sandwiches and toppings to make food outreach packages for PATH. On Friday, May 2nd, they will be assembling peanut butter and jelly and ham and cheese sandwiches, along with chips, granola bars, and water. PATH volunteers will provide direct outreach to people experiencing homelessness in Downtown. After we assemble the outreach food packages, we will participate in a dinner service where we will cook and serve PATH's clients at ther Downtown location, Connections. Community Outreach members and any additional PILT members attending are looking forward to it!

Community Outreach has continued its efforts with a food drive that began in the beginning of the month. So far, they have received canned food, pasta, and other non-perishables. We plan to set up an end-of-the-year drive to support PATH’s client’s pets. We’re hoping to further incorporate supporting people experiencing homelessness with pets into our projects, like Brayde did in the first few years after PILT was founded. Our idea is to set up creative workshops making homemade pet toys next school semester. 

Arturo has officially taken the role of social media manager. This month, we posted about dropping off donations at YMCA HOY, Community Outreach’s Clothing Cabinet service, Anya’s birthday, and Sophie’s donation drive in support of YMCA HOY. Arturo will continue posting about our members’ birthdays, thanking them for their support and congratulating their achievements toward our community.

Thank you and happy May!

• Minori