Redondo Beach Teens Commended For Work On Homeless Project

REDONDO BEACH, CA — Four Redondo Beach high school students will be receiving a commendation from the mayor at the City Council meeting Tuesday for their work on a homeless outreach program.

Anna Corkery, Brooke Tokushige, Christopher Strouse and Jordan Keith, who are sophomores and juniors at Redondo Union High School, started the project last school year with the goal of completing it by the end of this school year. The project is called Homeless Outreach for Purpose and Empowerment, or HOPE.

"The teens' project was not part of a school project but instead was a way for the teens to give back to their community," Redondo Beach police Lt. Shawn Freeman said.

The students met with the Redondo Beach Police Department and other local organizations to learn about the challenges to the South Bay homeless program, Freeman said. The teens then launched their project to raise more than $4,000 in donations over the school year to create care packages, “Welcome Home” kits, food cards and develop a $2,000 fund to assist homeless neighbors in Redondo Beach to gain permanent shelter, he said.

The teens raised funds and sought donations from local businesses, community members, family and friends to raise the needed money for their project.

"The students learned firsthand about the challenges facing the homeless population and the different perceptions held about the homeless population within the South Bay community," Freeman said.

By the end of this school year, the four exceeded their goal and raised nearly $5,000.

"The students are now putting together the various care packages to be delivered to their partners, Redondo Beach Police Department and PATH, accomplishing team HOPE’s community project to address the growing needs of the South Bay homeless population," Freeman said.

Patch file photo