Northridge Teen Helps Raise $10,000 For The Homeless

NORTHRIDGE, CA —A group of Northridge teens have helped raise $10,000 worth of hygiene kits for the homeless, the first initiative of a new group they've started called "Bee the Hope."

Led by Granada Hills Charter High School junior Nirvan Rayamajhi, the community service group comprised of students from all over the country set up a GoFundMe page to raise money and obtain supplies for 3000 kits. They were able to raise a total of $10,000, comprised of $4000 in monetary donations, $2000 worth of materials, and $4000 of his own money.

On Sept. 12, the group met in Northridge to pack the 3000 kits, which consist of a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, lotion, hand sanitizer, a comb, and shampoo. The kits have already been distributed to a number of different missions around the Valley, including Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission, the San Fernando Rescue Mission, Family Promise, and the homeless initiative of Councilmember John Lee. The remaining kits will go to different shelters around Los Angeles and the Bay Area.

“We told them some of our great needs are with hygiene products and they pulled together incredible resources to people in need,” said Hope of the Valley CEO Ken Craft. “I think you can never be too young to be a philanthropist and it’s better to start young and to recognize that we really do have a lot to be grateful for and the essence of living is giving and when we give, we find meaning and purpose.”

Founder Rayamajhi has already completed a number of initiatives in his community. In May, he raised $2000 to deliver meals and Mother's Day gifts to workers at a number of hospitals around the Valley, and on July, he worked with the San Fernando Valley Rescuem, a friend named Sahara Karki and his younger brother Neil - who attends the Alfred B. Nobel Charter Middle School in Northridge - to help collect and distribute 160 meals to LAUSD students in need.

GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.