It started with two friends and one volunteer shift at a local food bank.

In 2023, two eighth graders Andria and Jessica, who were passionate about volunteerism and community development, came together and hosted their first “kit packing session.” The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with volunteers loving the experience, so they continued. They fundraised by hosting lemonade stands at nearby parks two times a week during the summer and selling old toys on sites like eBay. Slowly but surely, they cultivated their own community of dedicated volunteers and corporate partners that aim to achieve one goal: to uplift communities in need.

 

The idea of “kit packing sessions” came after Jessica had an epiphany volunteering at a local food bank. While she packed bags of instant rice, she began to wonder whether this kit packing model could be translated for other causes. By having volunteers work together in a supply chain format, assembling ready to use kits, Andria and Jessica thought that they could not only maximize impact but make volunteering fun. From there, the duo spent countless nights discussing the branding and researching the legal steps towards forming a nonprofit. After drafting up a logo and landing on the name “KiTNETiC” (a play on words “kits” and “kinetic”), the next question was what cause should they focus on?

 

From Jessica’s experience in robotics, she began to notice how certain schools in her district had a disproportionate access to STEM resources and programs. Andria was equally interested in STEM education. Provided this, they knew exactly what they would pack first: STEM activity kits they designed. However, after a year of packing STEM kits, they realized that to truly expand STEM education, you must also support other community needs like hygiene. From there, they began to pack kits for all sorts of causes.

 

Now, the team has expanded from two eighth graders to over 20 ambitious high school and college students in the span of two years. Our story of origin was not without its challenges. At times, we struggled to secure the funds and support needed to scale operations. Yet, through persistence, we have established a resource haven for communities across Texas. We believe in the power of youth leadership to change the world. We believe in you to join our movement.