LIFE

Project helps the homeless

Madhavi Akella prepares a hand-sewn mask to be donated to help the homeless. (courtesy photo)

Project helps the homeless

During the early days of the pandemic, Scripps Ranch High School (SRHS) rising juniors Kylie Bach and Madhavi Akella were motivated by the boredom of their long days in quarantine.

“We had nothing to do, so wouldn’t it be good if we could use this time to do something good for the community?” Bach asked.

They didn’t know it then, but Covers for Lives was born.

The high schoolers’ first project involved making hand-sewn masks to donate to homeless individuals, about 1,500 of which were being packed into the convention center downtown.

“We bought supplies from Daiso out of our own pockets and we asked families for donations,” Bach said. “We hand-sewed about 250 masks and donated them to Father Joe’s.”

It was then when Bach and Madhavi realized they had the momentum to launch their home-grown project into an actual organization. The two friends gathered up more volunteers, including about six other SRHS juniors, and decided they would commit their time to supporting San Diego’s homeless population.

Their most recent project was an essential items drive-in where community members could donate items – including food, hygienic products and personal protective equipment – to be given to Father Joe’s Villages. The team also accepted Venmo donations to purchase more essential items.

Bach said the drive was a huge success, leaving them with more than $1,300 worth of feminine hygiene products, 130 cans of food, hundreds of masks and gloves, as well as $250 in Venmo donations.

Covers for Lives’ next project is equal parts charity drive and DIY project.

“We’re planning on tie-dyeing tanks and selling them to our peers online because it’s a trend,” Bach said.

All the proceeds will go toward purchasing more pads and tampons to be donated to a local women’s center.

If you’re interested in donating to Covers for Lives, reach out through the group’s Instagram @coversforlives, or visit coversforlives.wixsite.com/coversforlives.

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