December 9, 2008

Organization provides Gifts for Teens

With the holidays just over three weeks away, Holiday Gifts for Teens volunteers are collecting donations for teenagers.

Sacred Heart Community Service Holiday Program Director Marizela Maciel and Gifts for Teen Director Elaine Benoit celebrate the completion of boys’ gym bags last year. Photo courtesy of Gifts for Teens

Every year the American Association of University Women and Sacred Heart Community Service volunteers put together gifts for this forgotten segment of the population.

“Gifts for Teens is very rewarding,” said Edie Kerr, who gathers and packages jewelry for the bags. “We collect donations and fill the bags with items teenage boys and girls would like. It really gives you a warm feeling helping someone who is less fortunate. And it is really fun working with the women and seeing what you’ve completed.”

“Gifts for Teens is a wonderful experience,” adds Maggie Benson, who is looking forward to sorting and packing the items at Sacred Heart Community Service. “This project is so worthwhile and donations are key.”

Almaden’s Norma Faulkner is collecting makeup, nail polish, stuffed animals, photo albums and cosmetic bags for the teen girls’ bags.

“There’s a group of women who knit scarves and others that made 100 bead bracelets,” said Faulkner. “It’s very satisfying project to work on. The teens are often forgotten.”

The San Jose Branch of the American Association of University Women assembles the bags, which are handed out to teens at Sacred Heart, the Bill Wilson Center and EHC Lifebuilders.

“We often get toys for younger children and the teenagers are left out,” said Kimberly Abate, SHCS development associate. “If Holiday Gifts for Teens didn’t exist, many of our teenage clients wouldn’t receive anything.”

The volunteers have set a goal of 1,400 gift bags for low-income teens, 100 more than last year. Holiday Gifts for Teens depends on donations of new items from individuals and companies. Volunteers accept new logo T-shirts, jackets, ball caps, Frisbees, pens and other such items from companies for the program. But they are also excited to receive donations of any size including any dollar amount, a new lipstick or shampoo. Some businesses offer matching gift programs if employees donate. And cash allows volunteers to purchase items in quantity at wholesale prices.

Time is short for this year’s project. They need donations of sports items, gift certificates, jewelry, calculators, grooming products, clothing, radios, back packs to fill their goal of 1,400 bags and totes. The volunteers hope to hand out 750 totes for girls and 550 gym bags for boys this year.

Since 1997, AAUW together with community volunteers has created Holiday Gifts for Teens. Most charity groups collect toys and gifts for younger children and/or for adults while teenagers are left out. AAUW saw the need and filled it under Director Elaine Benoit.

“Disadvantaged teenagers, some of whom are homeless, are excited to open the Holiday Gifts for Teens bags and totes,” said Benoit. “The festive bags contain many hidden fun and practical small gifts. What the teens don’t see is the excitement and enthusiasm of the volunteers who answer the challenge of gathering and assembling these brimming full gift bags. Many women in the community gather teen gifts to creatively fill girl and boys’ totes. These women generously donate their time and funds, truly giving from the heart.”

To donate or volunteer for Gifts for Teens, contact project coordinator Elaine Benoit at ebenoit@pacbell.net or call (408) 268-9654.

—By Jeanne C. Carbone