Our story

In February of 2023, Sammi went on a mission trip to Baja California, Mexico. Along with a group of high school students, she helped build a two-bedroom house for a family of three in the area. However, the house lacked electricity. ​

When Sammi returned back to California- the famous sunshine state, she wondered what the family's lifestyle would be like without electricity. With a quick Google search, Sammi discovered a word she had never heard of: light poverty. ​

Light poverty is a prominent issue, especially in developing countries, where a lack of electricity will lead to health issues, the decline in quality of life, and even education for young children. With a hindrance in education- the very tool to break the cycle of poverty- light poverty is extremely overlooked and needs to be addressed. ​

In August of 2023, Sammi founded Lightaid, a fundraising nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds for light poverty. In collaboration with d.light and local nonprofits, Lightaid has successfully installed and delivered multiple batches of solar lights to Mexico and Chile. ​

Since then, Lightaid has grown to raise awareness for other prominent inequalities in the same regions. In 2024, Lightaid began initiatives to combat period poverty, period shame, and inequalities in education.