Sid Tilak is putting his philanthropy leadership skills to work making care packages for COVID frontline workers. (Photo/supplied)

As the COVID-19 shutdown came to Metrowest in mid-March, Ashland High student Sidarrth “Sid” Tilak watched his mom prepare a care package for her overworked friend who is a nurse. 

Sid said he asked his mom, ‘Why don't we do this for others, too?’ She asked him, ‘Why don't you do it?’ “I thought that was a great idea,” Sid said, and proceeded to create Snackz for Health.

“We decided to start right away and help hospitals that Ashland-based healthcare workers were associated with,” Sid explained.“We were not allowed inside hospitals, but the healthcare workers in Ashland were really helpful. My dad would drive me and I would deliver the care baskets to their homes the night before their shift. The next morning, they would take them to their hospitals and deliver them to various departments. We focused on COVID units and emergency room and house-keeping staff, who had the very difficult job of sanitizing and keeping the place hygienic.”

Support for the project came from family and friends, who Sid contacted via email and social media asking them to help. To cover costs of his project, he set up a fundraising page(https://bit.ly/32iMq2v) and raised about $700 in cash donations from friends and family and $300 from his parents.

“My 11-year-old sister, who is a good artist, helped out by doing an illustration for the card that I gave with each care basket,” Sid said. “Everyone was very supportive, and I am grateful for that.”

“I never knew there were so many healthcare workers in Ashland. We have delivered baskets to MGH, Newton Wellesley, Boston Children’s, Boston Medical Center, Metrowest Medical Center (both branches), UMass Worcester, some nursing homes and other frontline EMT and fire department workers. We also delivered to Ashland police and fire departments.”

Sid is a graduate of the Youth in Philanthropy Leadership Program run by the Foundation for Metrowest where he said he “learned about philanthropy and what it takes. I thought this [project] would be a great way to put what I learned to use.”

 Hospital workers are grateful for Sid’s care packages during the shutdown. (Photo/supplied)

Sid, who will be a junior at Ashland High School in the fall, enjoys science, history, and math and playing tennis. He is in the Model UN Club at school as well. “In my free time, I like listening to music, watching sports, and playing basketball and other sports—before COVID-19—and video games with my friends.”

“Though I really miss interacting with my friends and teachers, I have had a good year of remote learning. I am also thankful that the administration and staff have made this happen, allowing us to finish out the school year.”

Sid has put his project on hold for the summer since the health care workers have told him that things are getting better. 

“We are hoping it stays this way. If cases increase (fingers crossed that does not happen), we will plan to activate this [project] once again. I want to re-evaluate how we can resume helping in September based on what the situation looks like,”Sid said.