"Struggling to thrive in the underfunded schools of intercity Philadelphia, students are in perpetual need. Many families in the area are unable to afford the essentials: pencils, folders, paper, and backpacks. But the struggle goes far beyond mere school supplies. These students, who often lack sufficient food and medicine, face poverty and emotional struggles every day of their lives. When a life of pain and frustration becomes reality for these students, it is all too easy for them to give up on hope. But when Alexis Pettinato and her mother, Kelly Pettinato, drop by to donate essentials and help students focus on homework completion after school, students are able to look forward to a brighter future," Ashley Kister.