New American Pathways volunteers Lily and Evie know how to rally their community to support a good cause, and this summer they poured their hearts into raising money to fund backpacks filled with school supplies for over 240 students in our Bright Futures Afterschool Program. The team of sisters got involved with New AP after visiting Clarkston, Georgia and learning about refugee resettlement efforts taking place in their own communities, then quickly set out to raise over $4,000 by selling baked goods to friends and family.
The most rewarding part of the experience for Evie was seeing her close friends wanting to join the cause and gathering at the New AP office to stuff the backpacks with school supplies. Lily was so excited to see all of their hard work come to life in the boxes of supplies and hundreds of filled backpacks now being worn to school by students across Atlanta. Though their back-to-school drive took place before the height of the mass Afghanistan evacuations, Lily and Evie hope to stay involved with New American Pathways and support us in welcoming Afghan families in the coming months.
Lily shared that she is looking forward to starting college next year and taking all she has learned through volunteering with refugee communities in Atlanta to a new city and new people. Evie says her older sister’s passion for supporting new Americans has inspired her and she hopes to continue the efforts they have started right here at home by attending an alternative break trip to Clarkston with her school.
The sisters’ generosity has not gone unnoticed, and we were excited to be part of a huge surprise to show them our gratitude. The CBS46 Surprise Squad connected with New American Pathways to welcome the girls back into the office to recognize their contributions to the community. Little did we know, we were also getting surprised with a donation from CBS46 in honor of Lily and Evie’s dedication to New AP. You can watch the video here. You can also read about their story on 11 Alive and Yahoo! News.
We are so proud of you, Lily and Evie!