Julia Waldow, Print Arts & Style Editor

The Robotics team held a hygiene drive from Jan. 24 to Jan. 31 to send toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, lotion, hand sanitizer and dental floss to the P.A.T.H. homeless shelter in Los Angeles, which aspires to help homeless individuals find jobs, save money, receive housing and “empower their lives with the tools for self-sufficiency.”“Toiletries may not seem like the most important thing in the world, but considering the sanitation benefits they provide, they are pretty necessary things,” sophomore and Robotics member Michael Simozar said. “Giving back is a great feeling, even when it’s in a small way, like [giving] toiletries.”
Community service is an integral and important part of Robotics, according to team members.
“Lots of people don’t realize that Robotics is only half building a robot,” senior and team member Chloe Revery said. “The other half of the team is community outreach and holding fundraisers, volunteering and helping the community. We work with multiple charities and hold several fundraisers a year. The P.A.T.H. hygiene drive is just one way that we reach out to other organizations in our community.”
Earlier this year, Robotics raised over 1,000 cans for a can drive benefiting Ronald McDonald House, a Los Angeles based charity that helps to improve children’s health and well-being. Robotics also held a school wide fundraiser for the Darfur Dream Team. In December, the team collected over 300 socks to donate to the Salvation Army.
“I like raising awareness for the Robotics program through community outreach,” Revery said.