Students hold benefits to help the homeless
At 12 years old, Anish Pallod of Upper Macungie Township is already a strategic thinker, thanks to his love of chess.
Along with the Springhouse Middle School seventh grader’s sharp mind comes a heart for helping the less fortunate. In this era of the coronavirus, though, helping people sometimes requires a little chess strategy.
For the Allentown Rescue Mission, that meant an online chess camp.
His family already makes and donates sandwiches to the shelter for homeless men.
“My parents know a few of the workers there,” he said. “I was really interested in seeing what more I could do.”
Twelve students in second through eighth grades signed up for the camp, each donating $50 to take part.
Anish ran daily hourlong sessions on Zoom for six students in the morning and six more in the afternoon July 27-31.
“We started out with the basics, like how the chessboard is laid out and how to capture pieces,” he said. “Gradually, we moved on to more advanced concepts, like how to create advantages, how to have more pieces on the board than your opponent and how to make exchanges and trades.”
Six of the students enjoyed the chess camp so much that they asked Anish if he’ll have another one.
“I’m excited to do one inperson if we can all work together to end the pandemic, but I want to do more than just another chess camp,” said Anish, a three-time champion in his grade category at the annual Pennsylvania State Chess Federation tournament. “I’m ready to focus on anything that can help the world.”
Parents Kishor and Amita Pallod are proud of their son.
“We are really excited that Anish chose to use his skills for something like this,” Kishor Pallod said. “He’s always going out of his way to see what more he can do to help others. It’s something we encourage.”
Allentown Rescue Mission community relations director Stefanie Appel was impressed by the sophistication of Anish’s fundraiser.
“We get several kids each year who do a fantastic job organizing drives to collect money, food or other items for the Allentown Rescue Mission, but Anish is the first to work directly with our development manager and to take on such a complex project,”
Appel said. “This just shows there are many youth who care about the homeless in their communities.”
Another example is 14-yearold Salisbury High School freshman Riley Knecht, who has planned an archery competition benefit.
A category winner in state and national beauty pageants, Riley said her social platform is volunteering to help feed the less fortunate, which she and her family do at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Catasauqua.
“So, helping the Allentown Rescue Mission fits in with my social platform,” she said. “As for why I chose an archery competition as a fundraiser, my dad hunts and fishes and taught me archery, which I’ve been doing since second grade.”
Organized with help from her father, Adam Knecht, the competition will be Sept. 5 at the Izaak Walton Rod & Gun Club, 2181 Wehr Mill Road, South Whitehall Township.
Participants can register between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. the day of the event. The entry fee is $15 per adult and $10 per child with no age restrictions.
“Due to social distancing, we’re arranging it so that there won’t be a large congregation of people on the range at any time,” Adam Knecht said.
Morning Call reporter Andrew Scott can be reached at 610-820-6508 or ascott@mcall.com.