In June, our friends at PATH reached out to let us know that they were getting ready for a pizza party event called “Slice of Hope,” and that they needed volunteers to help put the party together. The event is held yearly as a way to help lift their residents’ spirits, and it hinges on the support of generous donors for pizza and other food, as well as the support of plenty of volunteers to make sure the party is a success. While our schedules are always busy as entrepreneurs and parents, we knew we needed to make the time to lend a hand. So, we called up some friends and scheduled a party on June 19th at PATH's interim residential facility in Los Angeles.
On the day of the party, we whipped up some of our favorite peanut butter cookies, created an upbeat party playlist, and brightened up the dining areas with some fun summer party decor. We were welcomed by the residents, who were excited for a chance to relax and enjoy some good pizza. Once we were all set up and had the party vibes going, we served the delicious pizza donated by Pizzanista, along with some strawberry lemonade, to the residents and staff. We joined the residents for the meal, and got to know them a bit more. Zach ended up playing chess with some of the guys, while I did some photo frame decorating and mandala coloring with the ladies. Everyone seemed like they enjoyed the food and activities, and the residents and staff at PATH made sure we felt their appreciation for what we did that night.
A friend from Pizzanista dropping off the pies!
Partnering with PATH has been an incredibly rewarding experience for us, and it’s been a crucial part of our mission to Spread The Love Forward. Not only does it feel good to volunteer, but working with PATH also gives us the opportunity to lend a hand toward solving one of the biggest crises in LA: homelessness. As the homelessness crisis continues to escalate in Los Angeles (unfortunately, counts are up by 12% in L.A. County this year), we want to encourage our community to get involved and lend a hand! For more information on how to volunteer with PATH, either visit their website here, or email them at pathvolunteers@epath.org.