March Blog: Preparing Dinner for our Vulnerable Neighbors

Happy April!

With March came the arrival of spring, the statement that the harsh winter days are finally over. With spring, people living on the streets have less to worry about the weather, with San Diego hosting very sunny springs and what must be early summers. However, while the weather may be nice during the day, nights are still cold and gloomy. That’s why at PILT, they still have clothing drives ongoing, in hopes of supplying blankets and jackets for those in need. 

While clothing is always in need, PILT turned its attention to food insecurity during March. PILT members and Community Outreach Club members at San Diego High School went to PATH to participate in one of its wonderful dinner services, and before it, made 300 sandwiches for PATH’s outreach team to hand out. The sandwich bags included peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, ham and cheese sandwiches, and granola bars. Anya, at East Village Middle College High School, is part of Interact Club, which has scheduled multiple dinner services at PATH Connections in the following spring months. It already participated in one in March.

Otherwise, semester projects are still in progress. Anya has a Krispy Kreme fundraiser planned at EVMCHS, Josephine (AEACES) and Sarah (Innovations Academy) will be presenting on student involvement in our communities in April, with hopes of raising awareness on homelessness in their elementary schools. Simone and Hannah (SDHS) created the Birthday Initiative, which will supply cupcakes to kids experiencing or transitioning out of homelessness to celebrate their birthdays. They are creating the foundation for their project and are setting up for their first client. Community Outreach Club has multiple sales planned that will go towards PILT projects and supporting our partners, such as Kids Outreach Initiative, which will be a focus in May. They will be supplying them with food kits, which they hand out in La Mesa to youth on the streets.

April has lots of promising projects coming up, as well as a new perspective on the organization as a whole, as Arturo came up with the idea to sprinkle in a bit of team bonding. During mid-April, PILT members will meet up and get to know each other more, have fun, receive support on projects, and celebrate their accomplishments. The goal is to ensure that PILT continues to be what Brayden founded it as — a way for a group of friends to support their community.

Thank you and have an amazing spring break! Great job to all of you!

Go PILT!!!

—Minori