What’s Happening In San Diego?

In recent years, San Diego has faced a housing crisis of unprecedented proportions. With a significant shortage of available homes, the crisis contributes to rising rates of poverty and homelessness in our community.

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Recent News

Donate

Do you have any spare clothing, toys, books, or other items you’d like to donate to our upcoming drives?

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Join TGUPSD

Are you a resident in San Diego and are interested helping organize donation drives and distributions to vulnerable communities? A student looking for volunteer hours? Have a passion for humanitarian and community advocacy?

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Who We’ve Worked With

Many of our collaborations have been with other student-led organizations. See more on our contributions here.Interested in partnership? Feel free to reach out to us at tgupsd@gmail.com, or via instagram at @thegroundupprojectsd!

What is The Ground Up Project: San Diego?

Who We Are

The Ground Up Project San Diego is a student-led, nonprofit, humanitarian project committed to addressing the housing crisis and high living costs in San Diego while responding to humanitarian crises worldwide.Driven by compassion and a commitment to serve, we coordinate a range of impactful initiatives aimed at supporting vulnerable communities. We aim to serve as educators and advocates, raising awareness of both local and global social issues to foster understanding and inspire meaningful action.

Using A Surplus

• What does “Use your surplus” mean?“Giving from a surplus” to us means mobilizing donations from individuals who have extra resources to spare. We host numerous events and drives, spreading awareness of both local and global social challenges our world faces.
Through collaborative efforts, we redistribute donations from our local community to those in need, offering vital support to individuals and families facing adversity. Using your surplus, we are able to push those who need it, higher.

As of March 2024, we have collected and distributed 2,500+ lbs of various items to organizations around San Diego. We have so far been able to serve three countries outside of the United States.From organizing donation drives for our local community to delivering toys to children in Tijuana and menstrual products to refugees in Bangladesh, our mission is to provide practical assistance where it's needed most. In San Diego, we have hosted food, toy, book and clothing drives.Regardless of whether a drive is active or not, we are always accepting donations of gently used clothing, toys, shoes, and books, as well as non-perishable food.

• Our History

• Board of Directors

Elizabeth Duhig
Founder & President

During her Youth Leadership Association (YLA) internship in Washington D.C., Elizabeth Duhig founded The Ground Up Project: San Diego. Through her project, she actively initiated collaborations with other student-led organizations to coordinate food, clothing, and toy drives, serving local San Diego families and international shelters including those in Mexico and Bangladesh.Outside of her community service, Elizabeth volunteers frequently at the Surgical ICU at Sharp Grossmont Hospital, where she gains healthcare and clinical experience, and trains incoming volunteers with hospital duties and clinical patient interaction.Elizabeth has served as a member of her school’s Global Language and Leadership Program and is trilingual in English, Spanish, and Mandarin. She additionally served as a cultural liaison for Sister Cities San Diego - Alcalá, aiming to promote cultural awareness between those respective cities.In her free time, Elizabeth likes to paint, using money earned through commissions to fund ordeals concerning The Ground Up Project.Elizabeth’s future goals include attending medical school and pursuing orthopedic surgery.

Amanda Tạ
Vice President

Since middle school, Amanda Tạ has been driven by a passion for design, which later evolved into the creation of The Ground Up Project SD’s website.Amanda has additionally served as Vice President for her high school’s Academic WorldQuest team in Lakeside, CA. She later received the Glass Globe Trophy as a National Championship Finalist at the World Affairs Council Academic WorldQuest San Diego in 2024 and represented her state council at The Carlos and Malú Alvarez Academic WorldQuest™ national championship competition in Washington, D.C.Outside of her commitments, Amanda enjoys acrylic painting, sketching, and reading. She is deeply interested in child and adolescent mental health, developmental research, and psychological phenomena.In the future, Amanda plans to work as a counseling psychologist and work with at-risk youth. She is currently pursuing her bachelor's at San Diego State University.

How It Began

The Ground Up Project: San Diego first began as a youth leadership project in Washington, D.C. by 15 year old Elizabeth Duhig. It originally started as an initiative to aid families and individuals in San Diego with high living costs and financial strain, utilizing donations from local community members.Since then, the total distributed amount of donations has grown to over 1,900+ pounds, percentages of it going internationally, as the project has been able to establish itself in three different countries.Moving forward, the numbers continue to grow.

June, 2023

During a Youth Leadership Association (YLA) internship in Washington D.C., Elizabeth Duhig founded The Ground Up Project: San Diego.

November 17, 2023

TGUPSD collaborates with El Cap 4 Change Club to host a campus-wide food collection competition, raising 1,387 lbs of non-perishable food to the San Diego Food Bank.

December 30, 2023

TGUPSD organizes its first international distribution of 81 lbs of toys to a migrant house in Tijuana.

January 27, 2024

TGUPSD partners with YLA initiative Burmese Relief Reach to donate 670+ pads to a refugee camp in Bangladesh.

February 25, 2024

TGUPSD hosts its first statewide clothing drive in partnership with James Logan High School Club Minorities in Politics, reaching the project's total distribution count to over 2,500+ lbs.

January 27, 2024

TGUPSD packages and distributes 25 lbs of hygiene products and school supply donations to Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation in Vietnam.

Recent News

Founder's Blog: The Impact Of Social Media On The Ground Up Project

Despite the increasingly addictive nature of social media, it has been crucial in expanding the project’s reach and inspiring involvement. Since its launch, TGUPSD has frequently utilized social media to advertise upcoming donation drives and connect with volunteers, helping to redistribute items from the community and provide support to those in need.

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Founder's Blog: The Effects of Doom-Scrolling on The Human Attention Span

The human attention span has significantly decreased from 12 seconds in 2000 to 8.25 seconds in 2024, largely due to the effects of “doom-scrolling” on social media. Driven by the constant need for quick dopamine hits from short videos, we've conditioned our brains to seek instant gratification, leading to decreased focus and productivity.

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Shoutout Socal - Meet Elizabeth Duhig

A brief interview with web platform Shoutout Socal regarding The Ground Up Project.

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What’s Happening In San Diego?

In recent years, San Diego has faced a housing crisis of unprecedented proportions. With a significant shortage of available homes, the crisis contributes to rising rates of poverty and homelessness in our community.

• Read

*The Ground Up Project San Diego ensures that 100% of our donations go towards other nonprofit organizations/charities, or to support our project.

Why Donate?

At TGUPSD, we host various events and drives mobilizing donations from local community members, later redistributing them to various charities and organizations to aid those in need.Donors play a crucial role in fueling our organization's impact. Through your generous contributions, we are able to drive positive change in San Diego and even extend our reach to communities around the world.

What Can I Donate?

Regardless of whether a drive is active or not, we are always accepting donations.These include:• Clothing (including purses, accessories, and shoes)
• Toys / Board Games
• Books / Educational Supplies (pencils, pencil cases, markers, notebooks, etc)
• Non-perishable food.Note: For health reasons, we do not accept any undergarments or swimwear.

How To Donate

Please note: At this time, we do not have the finances for a bin system, so many of the donations are coordinated by simple exchange.To donate, please choose one of the methods below.

• Instagram

Instagram:Have instagram? Contact us via @thegroundupprojectsd to schedule a donation delivery!In your message, please include whether you’d prefer to:• Arrange for one of our student staff members to pick up your donation at a specified location.
• Drop off your donation at one of our designated locations.

• Mobile

Donation Form:1. Fill out the donation form below with your contact information and donation details.2. In the form, choose one of the following options for donation delivery:• Arrange for one of our student staff members to pick up your donation at a specified location.• Drop off your donation at one of our designated locations after completing the site form.3. You will receive a text or email from our team shortly. Please reply to confirm your donation exchange.

Once your donation is received, each donor will receive a digital thank you letter signed by our team. Your support enables us to continue our humanitarian efforts in San Diego and beyond. We thank you for your generosity!

Donation Form:

In the form below, please include:Donation Info• Name
• Email Address (or phone number as a primary contact)
• Item type (clothing/books/toys/etc)Delivery Info (pick one)• Staff Pick-Up (please include an address)
• Drop OffAvailabilityPlease include a time where you would be available for delivery. Ex: Mon - Fri, 3 to 5 pm.

Why Volunteer?

At The Ground Up Project: San Diego, volunteers are the backbone of our organization, contributing their time, skills, and passion to support our humanitarian efforts both in San Diego and around the world.

Volunteer Opportunities

Whether you're passionate about addressing the housing crisis in San Diego or providing aid to those affected by humanitarian crises worldwide, we offer a range of impactful initiatives for you to get involved in.Community Engagement: Become part of a dedicated team committed to fostering positive change in the San Diego community.Experience: Gain new experiences and skills while contributing to meaningful projects. No prior experience is necessary—just bring your enthusiasm and willingness to serve!Local Drives: Participate in organizing and conducting comprehensive food, toy, and clothing drives for local communities in need.Global Outreach: Support our efforts in delivering essential supplies to organizations outside of the U.S.Awareness and Advocacy: Be a part of an active initiative to help educate our community on pressing issues such as food insecurity, San Diego’s housing crisis, alleviating poverty, and other global humanitarian crises.

How Do I Volunteer?

Take 10 minutes to fill out the form below. Once submitted, our team will reach out to you within 24 hours!

Please provide the following information:• Name / Age
• Email Address (or phone number as a primary contact)
• Why you would like to volunteer at TGUPSD
• Any past volunteer/work experience (If applicable)
• Would you like to track your volunteer hours? (yes/no)

What’s Happening In San Diego?

March 9, 2024
Posted by Amanda Tạ

The ProblemIn recent years, San Diego has been facing multiple crises of unprecedented proportions. With a significant shortage of available homes, inflation rates skyrocketing in comparison to previous decades, and layoffs becoming more common as time goes on, this crisis is a main contributor to rising rates of poverty and homelessness in our community. Because of the pandemic, this situation has worsened for many individuals and families across San Diego County and California.According to recent data from the San Diego Multiple Listing Service, the city holds only around 2,000 homes on the market compared to the typical 6,000 to 8,000. As a result, housing prices have surged, placing homeownership further out of reach for many residents.This housing scarcity not only exacerbates the cost of living but also contributes to the growing rates of poverty and homelessness in our community. In 2021, 10.5% of families in San Diego County were living below the poverty line, despite the region’s reputation for prosperity.
The federal poverty thresholds, while standardized across the nation, fail to account for the unique cost of living in high-cost areas like San Diego and California. As a result, many families struggle to make ends meet, facing financial instability and limited access to essential resources.

The Ground Up Project: San DiegoIn response to the crisis, The Ground Up Project: San Diego has led various initiatives to address the high living costs prevalent in San Diego County.In early November of 2023, TGUPSD partnered with high school club El Capitan 4 Change to organize a food drive. Hosting a collection competition between classrooms, we successfully collected a total of 1,387 lbs of non-perishable food items (equivalent to over 3,000+ meals). These generous donations were later distributed to the San Diego Food Bank, providing essential support to individuals and families facing food insecurity within our community.Additionally, we have undertaken multiple clothing drives across San Diego County, including a continuous clothing drive in order to help supply issues as they come (ex: Hurricane Hillary). As well as collaborating with another student organization Minorities in Politics at James Logan High School in the San Francisco Bay Area. Through these efforts, we have amassed over 400+ lbs of clothing donations, offering warmth and comfort to those in need.

ResourcesIf you or someone you know is struggling with homelessness or the high living costs in San Diego, we urge you to explore the following resources:

1. San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC)The SDHC offers various programs and resources aimed at assisting individuals and families with affordable housing options, rental assistance, and homelessness prevention services.2. 211 San DiegoDialing 211 or visiting the 211 San Diego website connects individuals with a comprehensive directory of community resources and services, including housing assistance, food assistance, healthcare, and more.3. San Diego Food BankThe San Diego Food Bank provides vital food assistance programs, including food distribution centers, meal programs, and CalFresh application assistance, to help combat food insecurity in the region.4. Legal Aid Society of San DiegoThe Legal Aid Society of San Diego provides free legal assistance and advocacy services to low-income individuals and families facing housing-related issues, including eviction defense and tenant rights.5. San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA)HHSA offers a range of services and programs, including CalWORKs, CalFresh, and Medi-Cal, to support individuals and families with essential needs such as healthcare, food assistance, and financial assistance.6. San Diego Workforce PartnershipThe San Diego Workforce Partnership offers employment and job training programs to help individuals gain skills, find employment opportunities, and improve their financial stability.7. United Way of San Diego CountyUnited Way provides referrals to relevant resources and assistance programs to help individuals and families in need.8. Father Joe's VillagesFather Joe's Villages offers emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in San Diego.9. Alpha ProjectThe Alpha Project provides housing and support services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, with a focus on permanent housing solutions.

You are not alone. Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, and there are resources and support available to assist you during challenging times. Do not hesitate to reach out and access the help you need.

Privacy Policy

Updated March 23, 2024.

This Privacy notice describes how The Ground Up Project: San Diego collects, uses, and protects the personal information you provide when using our website tgupsd.orgInformation We CollectWe only have access to the information that you voluntarily provide to us by filling out forms on our website. This may include:• Contact information (e.g., name, email address)
• Demographic information (e.g., age, gender)
• Any other information you choose to share with us through the forms on our site.Use of InformationWe use the information you provide to:• Respond to your inquiries and requests
• Provide and personalize website content
• Improve our website and user experience
• Communicate with you about our organization, services, and updatesTracking TechnologyWe do not currently use any tracking technology on our website. However, if we implement tracking technologies in the future, we will update our privacy policy accordingly.Links to Other SitesOur website may contain links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of any other site that collects personally identifiable information.Contact InformationIf you have any questions or concerns about our privacy policy or the handling of your personal information, you may contact us at tgupsd@gmail.comUpdates to This Privacy PolicyWe may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will indicate the effective date of the updated policy at the top of this page.

Terms and Conditions

Updated March 23, 2024.

These Terms and Conditions set forth TGUPSD's policy for acceptable use of the tgupsd.org and describe your rights, obligations, and restrictions regarding your use of the site. In order to participate in certain services on tgupsd.org, you may agree to the terms and conditions.These Terms and Conditions may be subject to change at any time without prior notice, and modification shall be effective upon posting on the website by TGUPSD. You agree to be bound to any changes to the Terms and Conditions when you use the Website after any such modification is posted. It is therefore important that you review the posted Terms and Conditions regularly to ensure you are updated as to any changes.Intellectual PropertyAll content, trademarks, logos, and other intellectual property displayed on our website or services are the property of TGUP or its licensors. You may not use, reproduce, or distribute any such content without our prior written consent.Limitation of LiabilityTGUP shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including without limitation, loss of profits, data, or goodwill, arising out of or in connection with your use of our services.General UseThe TGUPSD website is intended for private, informational, and organizational purposes only. It may be used solely for lawful purposes. Users agree not to utilize the website for any unlawful or prohibited purpose. Unauthorized activities, including collecting usernames and/or email addresses of other users for unsolicited email or other unauthorized purposes, are strictly prohibited.While TGUPSD strives to provide accurate information, it cannot guarantee that all information on the website is always correct. TGUPSD assumes no responsibility for any incorrect information or inappropriate content or conduct posted or occurring on the website.If you notice any misuse of the website by any individual, please contact us directly at tgupsd@gmail.com.IndemnificationYou agree to indemnify and hold TGUP harmless from any claims, damages, liabilities, costs, or expenses arising out of or in connection with your use of our services or any breach of these Terms and Conditions.LinksAny links to third-party websites posted on the TGUPSD website by users are not under the control of TGUPSD, and we are not responsible for their contents or any other links within them. We are not liable for transmissions you receive from third-party websites or for their failure to function properly. Links on the TGUPSD website are provided solely for convenience, and TGUPSD does not endorse any third-party websites, unless otherwise specified. Users are solely responsible for complying with the terms of use of any third-party website.Governing LawThese Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of California, United States.If you have any questions or concerns about these Terms and Conditions, please contact us at tgupsd@gmail.com.