According to the US Interagency Council on Homelessness, more than 150,000 men and women in the state of California are homeless on a normal day – that’s the most out of any state.

As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, citizens and public health professionals alike are concerned that the needs of this population will not be met and that homeless encampments could become hotspots for disease transmission.

And while the state has dedicated resources to its homeless population, there are still gaps to be filled.

One 15-year-old honor student from Tesoro High School in Orange County is doing her best to help fill some of those gaps. Her name is Shaivi Shah.

When she was interviewed by CNN back in mid-March, she said that it was a speech by California’s Governor Gavin Newsom that encouraged her to think about how to help the homeless.

“They don’t have necessities right now that are crucial to remain clean and stay germ-free,” Shaivi told CNN.

In response, she and her parents purchased the initial materials and – with the help of other honor society members – put together 150 sanitation kits to hand out in three Los Angeles homeless shelters.

Those kits include hand sanitizer, antibacterial soap, lotion, and reusable masks.

Now she’s using GoFundMe to raise even more money to expand her program to the rest of the state and even throughout the country.

“These people that are living on the streets, they have no protection, so even a small amount could help,” Shah said.

Shah realized that she was in a position to be of service and that the homeless are easily overlooked as other citizens shelter in place.

“A lot of people are just focusing on themselves and their families,” she said.

Now the teen hopes her actions will encourage others – no matter what age – to think of the vulnerable people in their communities and look for ways to help.

(These photos were taken before the CDC made their recommendation to wear masks in public.)

It may come as no surprise that this isn’t Shah’s first act of community service. According to CNN, she raised thousands of dollars last year through a dance recital to donate to a homeless shelter.

“It’s important for people to step in and just do whatever they can, even if it helps just one person,” the teen said.

Her mother Dipti Shah told news radio station KNX1070 that her daughter’s plan to help came as no surprise and that it was the teen to did all the hard work of finding materials.

“She did good finding the resources, and she got help from her friends, calling different stores, to see if they have any supplies,” said the proud mother.

As of April 21, her GoFundMe campaign has raised $19,200 of its $20,000 goal with the help of 485 donors. And as of April 17, that allowed her to make and deliver 1,049 kits to homeless shelters!

Donors were thrilled to take part in something so useful and clearly run and organized by a competent and kind-hearted teen.

Be sure to scroll down below for more on her act of kindness and a short interview with the teen herself.

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Source: GoFundMe, CNN, Daily Blast LIVE via YouTube, KNX 1070 Radio News