9 minute read

Building community

Art by

SAMANTHA HO

NEIGHBORS COME TOGETHER Even during a pandemic, Palo Alto residents are finding ways to reach out to one another. They are making masks, decorating their streets with art and games and organizing food drives for those in need. They are finding ways to spread positivity and stay connected, albeit from a distance.

Masks from scratch Text by

KYLIE MIES

MASK OF HOPE SEWS AND SNIPS T HE RECOMMENDATION pandemic, thus, sparking the creation of at doorsteps, and masks for donation are of “Masks Strongly Advised” a new organization, Mask of Hope. Mask picked up at houses. stunned Americans in shelter in of Hope aims to make and distribute face The involvement of middle school and place. Foreign to most Amerimasks to people of need in the Bay Area. high school students has been an importcans, masks are believed to belong in hospiAs of April 24, Mask of Hope has doant part of the Mask of Hope program. It tals and construction. In Taiwan, however, nated 722 cloth masks and 2,885 single-use is a bonding experience with the students masks have been a staple precautionary item to slow the spread of disease for decades. The Taiwanese American community of Palo Alto recognized and understood the importance of masks from the onset of the masks to groups in need, including the elderly, local stores and essential workers.

“Our group started with a few parents and students from “ The most rewarding part is recognizing the fabrics that I cut and seeing that they are goand their parents and a way to give back to their communities from the safety of their homes.

“It is my belief that the cloth masks Greene Middle School and now has grown to almost 30 contribing to help someone.” — ALEXIS CHIU, freshman that Masks of Hope are making are extremely helpful in utors,” Olivia Chen, these times when we a Greene parent and one of the original need protection from a virus,” Julian Chen, members of Mask of Hope, said. Olivia Chen’s son and student at Green

The trying times of quarantine and Middle School, said. “The mask making Chen’s advertising on social media grew also serves as a welcome distraction from Mask of Hope’s membership and made the quarantine.” it into a community effort that anybody The whole organization made by just could participate in. a few parents and children has created so

“We have people donating money to much good in the community with just cover materials that are becoming hard fabric and thread. to procure like thread, fabric and elastic,” “The most rewarding part is recognizChen said. “Some are helping to cut fabric ing the fabrics that I cut and seeing that because they can’t sew.” they are going to help FABRIC SNIP — Alexis Chiu, a Palo Alto High School freshman cuts cloth in her home. “Our family donates fabric and I help to cut the fabric for the masks.” Photo by Elena Chiu

The distribution of materials is completely contactless. Bags filled with sewing materials and fabric are dropped off someone,” Palo Alto High School freshman Alexis Chiu said. v

Grassroots giving

Text by

JAY RENAKER

ARTWORK AND GAMES AND BEARS, OH MY! E VEN AS DAUNTING phrastreat or a drawing, on their doorsteps. said. es like “social distancing” and “A few kids have started doing quaranGupta has also seen a variety of other “shelter-in-place” appear again tine Boos — just a little gesture that shows activities on her walks around the neighand again in news outlets and the kids that their friends are thinking of borhood including a chalk maze, hopscotch on social media, Palo Alto residents find them,” Bertelsen said. and even someone playing his saxophone ways to spread positivity. Setting up tedAddison Elementary School has been from his garage. Her daughters, Anisha dy bear hunts and creating small works of encouraging its students to spread positiviand Divya Gandhi, have made their own art around their houses are just two of the ty by posting signs to show off their school contribution to the community’s positive many ways that families are spreading hope in the community during this unprecedented, isolating time.

Inspired by Mi“ It seemed like a fun thing to do just to put a smile on our neighpride.

Palo Alto mom Charu Gupta is also participating in the community fun, even though she atmosphere by painting stones and placing them outside their house.

“It gave a fun purpose to our walks,” Palo Alto resident Angela Harris said. “We kept count on how many we spotted and it was good to see new ones on our walks through the neighborhood.”

When Addison Elementary School mom Lisa Bertelsen goes out with her kids for walks around the block, she frequently sees bears from the teddy hunt.

“It makes us feel less isolated,” Bertelsen said. “Every once in a while I remind them [her kids] that the grownups who live in these houses are bringing out their stuffies as a way of showing children that they understand how hard it is to stay home and that they care. So it creates a shared sense of purpose and solidarity.”

Another way that Addison students are creating community during this time is by reviving a tradition that usually occurs around Halloween. Students “Boo” their BEARS IN A ROW — Teddy bears have been cropping up in windows around the world, as a kind of scavenger hunt for younger children. “We kept count of how many we spotted and it was good to see new ones on our walks – kind of like a scavenger hunt,” Harris said. Photo by Jay friends by leaving a surprise gift, such as a Renaker

People passing by regularly stop to point out the colorful rocks to their children. The Gandhis were even asked to paint personalized rocks for a neighbor who adchael Rosen’s book bors’ faces.” doesn’t have teddy mired their work. “We’re Going on a Bear — CHARU GUPTA, Palo Alto resident bears. After finding “Kids like to find things, so it’s alHunt,” teddy bears have out about the hunt most a game to try and spot popped up in windows from a friend’s Facebook post, she immethe painted rocks,” Aniall around the world as communities look diately pulled out some bunny toys and sha and Divya wrote in a for ways to entertain and divert young chilplaced them in easily visible windows. shared email. “[We] hope dren. Kids can go outdoors and test their “It seemed like a fun thing to do to just that our neighbors feel scavenger hunting skills in the form of this put a smile on our neighbors’ faces,” Gupta happier.” v family friendly, socially distanced game.

Service organizations

Text by

MIA BALDONADO

COMMUNITY GROUPS CONTINUE TO HELP I T IS ALL TOO EASY to stay isolated during the coronavirus epidemic, but there are endless opportunities to get involved with the community during these unprecedented times. For those that have the means, supporting big organizations that help others is one of the best ways to aid people.

Due to the crisis, service organizations are more important than ever. Although the virus has impacted everyone across the world, it affects certain demographics disproportionately, including doctors, essential workers, undocumented immigrants and those who have been laid off from their jobs. Service organizations such as the Ecumenical Hunger Program and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula have been putting in their all to help these communities FOOD DRIVE — Palo Alto High School juniors organized a food drive to donate to the EHP. “We’re in any way they can.

EHP’s mission is to provide assistance going to go around to people’s doorsteps and pick up food off their doorsteps, and then bring it to the Ecumenical Hunger Program.” Photo by Catherine Reller to families and individuals experiencing “We get kind of stuck in like a bubLike EHP, BGCP has been allowing economic and personal hardship. During ble of Palo Alto,” Reller said. “I can’t speak limited numbers of volunteers to help out, the pandemic specifically, EHP has done for everyone but it hasn’t really affected our including students who are regular volunthis by giving food and other essentials community as much, but in communities teers or have pitched in recently. Kimi Lilto those in need. To maintain social disthat are really close to ours people are being lios, a junior, began working with BGCP tancing, the organization has been mostly affected by it greatly and I think it’s importsoon after the coronavirus started affecting serving people in cars, with vehicles entering through one gate of the EHP property and exiting out the other. EHP Executive “ Now it’s more important than ever that we stay united as a comant to help out and give back.”

Another service organization that is at work is the BGCP, whose goal communities.

“We’re doing our best to keep people tor Peter Fortenbaugh said that the orgato social distancing guidelines, and donatknowing that we care — that we’re here to nization has been taking action by serving ing is something that everyone can do from support them,” Preston said. “A smile does and distributing food, and supporting stutheir homes. wonders for people when they’re discourdents and their academic relationships with “We can’t do this work without others aged. Having someone to give service with teachers and peers. supporting us, and we’re a smile is always a blessing.” “It’s a great position to be in, that we’re very grateful for those

Paly students have been finding ways able to help others and be whole throughthat give their donations to get involved with EHP. Three members out this process,” Fortenbaugh said. “We and their time to help of the Social Justice pathway, including have tremendous appreciation for all the make EHP successful,” junior Catherine Reller, helped organize a volunteers who have stepped up to partner Preston said. “All I can food drive for the organization. with us.” say is thank you.” v

“It’s even harder for people who had already struggled in the past,” Lillios said. “The fact that there’s this organization that’s providing free meals and giving out free water — I thought it was a really worthy cause Director Lisa Preston said this help extends munity.” — KIMI LILLIOS, junior is to provide low-income youth with the that I wanted to help out in any way that I could.” beyond economic resources and opporTo help out the less fortunate during support, as people are tunities they need this time, the best course of action is to struggling with feelings of anxiety, confuto succeed. In such a critical time for this donate, according to Preston. Volunteering sion and distress. community, BGCP Chief Executive Direc— although it’s helpful — is limited due

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