About Our Organization

In the town of Andover, Massachusetts, the fall of 2022 marked the initiation of a meaningful journey for a group of proactive high schoolers. Nathan, alongside his friends Shrinaath and Arnav, devoted their Sunday afternoons to the commendable task of cleaning up AVIS trails. Their shared commitment to making a positive impact on their community reached a great success in January 2023 when Nathan was selected as a Project 351 ambassador for Andover. Project 351, a comprehensive program uniting eighth-grade students from each of Massachusetts's 351 cities and towns, served as the catalyst for these emerging leaders to actualize their aspirations. This year-long initiative, designed to foster community service, leadership development, and civic engagement, provided an ideal framework for Nathan and his associates to channel their collective fervor. Their debut service project for Project 351 involved organizing a clothing drive at Wood Hill Middle School. The resounding success of this initiative, yielding over 50 bags of new and lightly used clothing, underscored the community's generosity and the group's unwavering commitment. Undeterred by the scale of their accomplishments, Nathan, Arnav, Shrinaath, and their expanding team extended their philanthropic efforts. A noteworthy project involved crafting heartfelt cards for military service heroes, and a considerably larger card for local first responders. The involvement of numerous friends and classmates, who added their signatures to this communal expression of gratitude, transformed this project into an emotional part of the 9/11 service initiative—an emotional tribute honoring those impacted by the events of September 11, 2001. As fall descended upon Andover, the group embarked on their most ambitious project to date—a town-wide food drive in support of Bread and Roses food pantry. Bread and Roses had seen a 1000% increase in demand compared to the prior year, further strengthening the group’s resolve. With the collaborative efforts of Jasjit, Saketh, and Hannah, the drive was meticulously organized at prominent institutions like Phillips Academy Andover, Andover High School, and Wood Hill Middle School. This substantial undertaking resulted in the collection of over 200 pounds of food and more than $300 in donations, providing food to over 100 families during the holiday season. As the curtains fell on 2023, the group, brimming with newfound wisdom and aspirations, resolved to translate the lessons acquired from Project 351 into their organization. Thus, in December 2023, the Andover Service Initiative was conceived. This emerging organization, arising from the experiences of Project 351 and a shared dedication to service, endeavors to inspire a fresh generation of change-makers in Andover, propelling the community towards a future characterized by compassion and collective well-being.