As you can imagine, the holidays can be a particularly challenging time for young people experiencing homelessness. While many in the community are hosting holiday parties with friends and family or purchasing gifts for loved ones, many of our youth experience a profound sense of disconnection during the holidays. Seeking to brighten the season for our youth, My Friend’s Place hosts a special holiday celebration each December where 250 of our young people experiencing homelessness can come together with our staff, volunteers and community to enjoy a special meal, share in a festive celebration and receive some special holiday gifts and love. For many of our young people, these gifts of cold weather supplies and small comforts, such as a sleeping bag, a hoodie or a pair of headphones, will be the only holiday gifts that a youth will receive this year, and will bring much comfort to a young person during the holiday season and into the new year. Can you help us to make this sweet holiday celebration extra special for our young people this year?

There are many ways that you can participate, from contributing items from the gift wish list below to sponsoring a holiday gift drive or hosting a giving tree at your work, community center or business. We can provide you with all the supplies and materials you will need, and we can help with pick up/delivery of the gifts, too! This year, we are requesting that all gifts be at My Friend’s Place By Tuesday December 11 for Santa to distribute to youth at our Youth Holiday Celebration on Friday, December 14.

• Sleeping Bags
• Earbuds/Headphones
• $10 Gift Card for Groceries—Target, Food 4 Less, Vons
• $10 Gift Card for Food—Subway, 7/11, Starbucks
• Movie Tickets—ArcLight, AMC, Regal
• Beanies, Scarves, and Gloves
• Hoodies—Adult Sizes (Small-XXXL)

All new, unwrapped gifts must be delivered or shipped to My Friend’s Place by Tuesday, December 11 for our youth to receive at the Holiday Party on Friday, December 14. For information on hosting a drive, becoming a holiday sponsor, or to schedule a drop off, please contact  Rachel Sanchez.