PASTA (Peers And Students Taking Action)

Goal: $7,500.00

Specific Need

Thank you for supporting PASTA! Here are a few ways your donations can help us:

$25 supports our FREE onsite summer camp at a local apartment complex
$50 enhances weekly classes at our FREE Pre-K program for underserved families
$100 creates 10 kits during our “See Campaign” to make students feel seen
$150 supplies 2 months of FREE after-school onsite programs for kids who benefit from engaging with teen mentors and exploring STEAM activities
$250 funds our Passion Fair where kids unlock new interests and build self-esteem
$500 supports a financial literacy interactive year-long program for at-risk teens.
$1000 supports our award-winning FREE Leadership Program, where students design and create their own businesses and learn vital life skills.

Every donation to PASTA up to $3,500 will be MATCHED!

Mission

Our mission is Kids Helping Kids in the Community. We are a student-run, student-led nonprofit that creates, plans and executes volunteer projects. We promise Real Caring, Motivated Learning, and Serious Doing in each of our projects. Since our founding in 2013, our 80+ chapters have accomplished over 670 service projects, impacting 23,112 youth in Loudoun County! We are motivated to increase this number with community support.

Some of our projects help just a few people, like the year-long monthly care kits for a sibling dealing with the loss of her sister, or the mentorship for a boy whose father is incarcerated. Some projects target groups of students—such as our free Crazy 8’s math club we offered at INMED Family Services, or the free art lessons we gave at the Loudoun Youth Shelter. Other projects impact many, like our Family Field Day at Cedar Lane Elementary School which brought over 200 3rd – 6th grade kids and their families together for a fun day of activities promoting fitness and health. No matter how many people a project impacts, PASTA members use their passions to fuel genuine caring. We are changing the way the world cares!

Profile

Peers And Students Taking Action (PASTA) is a student-led 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to one mission: Kids helping kids in the community! Each of our chapters are made of middle and high school youth who plan and execute projects in the community based on their passions. PASTA members gain leadership skills, compassion, and an understanding of Loudoun County issues, and become passionate life-long volunteers!

Our Key Programs

Chapter Projects: Each of our chapters carry out 4-5 service projects annually, such as STEM days, pen-pal programs, guitar classes, rice drives, and more. To date, our chapters have accomplished 670 service projects for youth in the community.
Nothings ImPASTAble Tutoring and Mentoring Program: Initially funded by a grant from 100WomenStrong in 2017, we continue to run free tutoring and mentoring at our highest capacity, pairing high school mentors with elementary school mentees. To date, we have tutored over 500 students and completed over 2500 hours of tutoring!
Leadership Training: For three years, we have run a free leadership training program teaching skills of management, reflection, growth, and service. Thanks to the support of our donors, we have been able to expand this free, no-application program to youth in the community who do not otherwise have the opportunity for leadership training. We hope to continue running this program with the support of our donors.
Families in Crisis: PASTA comes together as an organization to help families going through rough times. We focus on providing free mentorship, tutoring, babysitting, friendship programs, requested items, or tribute programs. We have been contacted in the past for house fires, childhood illnesses, parent illness support for their kids, loss of family members, and impending homelessness.

PASTA is busy working on several exciting new programs your funds would help support:

Due to the demonstrated need in the community, PASTA is launching a pre-K program in partnership with an affordable housing complex in Loudoun County. Please consider supporting this effort!
PASTA is hoping to host summer camp programs for students impacted by the closing of INMED Family Services! With community support, we will be able to assist families that have recently lost critical resources such as childcare.

Join us in Changing the Way the World Cares!