10-year-old’s Help ME Help Others organization impacting San Diego

Por Dave Fidlin | Reportero SDUN

For his ninth birthday, Aldo Sanchez did not aspire to have a grandiose party, eat cake or receive any presents. Instead, his interests focused on collecting canned goods.

It was October 2012, and Sanchez and his classmates collected more than 600 cans to benefit the Ronald McDonald House. The endeavor gave birth to an organization known as Help ME Help Others.

Fast forward 14 months, and Sanchez, now 10, has set his sights on helping anyone in his midst. More recently, he’s placed emphasis on serving the city’s homeless population by rallying up donations for shoes, blankets and desserts.

Several homeless-serving organizations have been the direct beneficiaries of Sanchez’s efforts, including Monarch Schools and People Assisting the Homeless (PATH).

When asked what inspired him to give back to others, Sanchez offers a rather simple response. The goal, he said, is to inspire others to duplicate what he is doing.

“I’m fortunate, so I feel I should help people,” said Sanchez, who lives in the city’s Mission Valley neighborhood. “I like putting smiles on other people’s faces.”

Sanchez’s parents are quick to point out Help ME Help Others was an idea he came up with on his own.

“Aldo has always had a lot of different ideas,” his mother, Isabel Levya-Sanchez, said. “He has high goals and is filled with joy.”

Sanchez has set up stations in different areas of the city to help spread the word about what he is doing.

Last month, Sanchez manned a booth outside the Albertsons in Hillcrest just days before Thanksgiving. He was collecting pumpkin pies with the intention of adding a little sweetness to homeless peoples’ holiday festivities. The donations benefited people in Ocean Beach.

“We were handing out fliers to people, and we asked people if they could donate,” Sanchez said of his recent Hillcrest effort. “One woman got out her wallet and handed me all of her coins. That was neat.”

It’s no secret San Diego’s homeless population is a startling statistic. The city currently ranks third, trailing New York City and Los Angeles. While it can be easy to overlook the nearly 10,000 homeless people in San Diego, Sanchez said he has not been desensitized to it.

Sanchez said the shoe drive he embarked on earlier this year came after seeing a young girl living out of a van with her family. She lacked shoes and had only one sock.

“I think this kind of thing helps give people a second chance,” Sanchez said. “People need to have second chances.”

In his brief foray, Sanchez has already caught the notice of some heavy hitters. In June, the San Diego Padres named Sanchez to its annual Hispanic Heritage Comunidad Awards program. Sanchez is the youngest award recipient to date.

For now, Sanchez is taking a brief respite from his vigorous fundraising efforts. But he already has sketched out his next effort — collecting personal care items such as soap and deodorant for an organization to be determined. Isabel said a recipient should be chosen soon.

Sanchez, a fifth-grader at Dana Middle School in Point Loma, said he would like to study computer engineering once he graduates high school, but his aspirations don’t end there. He said he would also like to one day become president of the U.S.

“It’s overwhelming,” Isabel said, reflecting on her son’s efforts and the community’s outpouring of support. “I’m proud of everything he’s done. We’ve all been showered with blessings from this.”

To learn more about Aldo Sanchez and his Help ME Help Others organization, visit his Facebook page “Help ME Help Others” or email: [email protected].