September Blog: Dinner Service Supporting PATH Connections

PILT members have settled in at their schools and are ready to complete their projects. On September 6th, we started the semester off with a dinner service at PATH Connections where more than 15 PILT and SDHS Community Outreach Club members volunteered. We prepared meals for PATH’s clients, served the food, and made sure that we left the kitchens ready to use for the next group of volunteers. It was a great opportunity for old members to catch up and for new club members at San Diego High School to see what a difference that we can make. We’ve already scheduled our next dinner service during the winter service at PATH and are planning a clothing organizing drive at Connections as well.

We are proud to announce that our new member, Sarah, joining from Innovations Academy, has made her school our 20th partner school. At only nine years old, Sarah has already set up a food drive at her school. Our other elementary schooler, Josephine, has been planning a hygiene drive at Albert Einstein Academy Charter Elementary School that she can begin with her Principal’s permission. She also plans to present about community involvement to her peers, like she and Minori did last year.

At our high schools, Academy of Our Lady of Peace is currently inactive with Esli and Malia stepping down, due to their packed schedules. It still remains a partner school and we hope to work with them in the near future. However, Anya at East Village Middle College High School is going to set up a fundraiser to support our vulnerable neighbors. Sophie at Helix Charter High School will be hosting a clothing drive. At San Diego High School, Community Outreach Club has had a pizza sale with $92 profits going to creating care kits for Kids Outreach Initiative. Along with the fundraiser, the club members helped out with the monthly Caver food pantry, handing out fresh produce and non-perishables. Minori and her mom donated a few left-over boxes of eggplants to PATH Connections. The club also started a clothing drive, which they will be promoting at their school.

Outside of school involvement, PILT has also started their fall outreach. Minori and Aya are sending out emails to recruit schools and clubs within San Diego to do a project to support one of PILT’s partner organizations, like PATH, Kids Outreach Initiative, Sharia’s Closet, and YMCA’s Housing Our Youth and Transitional Age Youth programs. Minori and Aya are also working on getting a grant for PATH from Bristol Myers Squibb, and are collaborating with PATH volunteers Ms. Sturben and Mr. Iijima.

Furthermore, PILT has an exciting announcement to make: Josephine, Mr. Baur (her dad), and Arturo are creating a Technology Committee where they will work together to get schools, clubs, and companies to donate computers to PATH to open up opportunities for their clients. Computers will allow PATH’s clients to find jobs, receive education, and have access to every-day information.

During September, Anya has been updating our website and Arturo has been posting Sophie’s designs on our Facebook, Instagram, and X platforms. 

Thank you so much to our hardworking PILTers and all those who have been supporting us as advisors or donors on our GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-pilt-to-end-homelessness

Go PILT!

—Minori