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South Street Youth Center Holiday Party! They need help....

EDITORS UPDATE: 12/17/2010 12:00 PM (Cross posted from here).

 

BEGIN:

 

Hey everyone,
Thanks for your generosity - the kids are super excited! OMG!!!!
Here is what we still need:
  • Wrapped and labeled gifts for about 20 more kids - sign up here.
  • Wrapping papper
  • Gentle used Christmas Decorations
  • Gift Cards from Local Businesses - sign up here.
Drop of times:
  • Saturday 12/18 - 10 am and 2pm
  • Monday 12/20 - 2 pm  and 4 pm
Address:
  • 15 St. Rose Street, Rear Basement. The first door, on the first side, of the first brick building, behind the houses that line South Street.
Can't find the Youth Center?
  • Call 617-477-8263.

 

END:

 

Original post:

 

Hi there,

I'm writing about our impending holiday celebration this year. SSYC is under construction and so whether we can have a Winter Holiday party is under debate. We don't currently have a functioning kitchen and without a sink we may have difficulties, but the kids REALLY want the party and their planning is underway.

 

Part of the yearly celebration is that "Santa" comes and gives each child a toy. If we don't have the party we will still figure out a way to make the gift giving happen. So, we're looking for someone to play Santa AND We've received word that we probably won't be able to get as many Christmas gifts this year so we won't be able to have enough for each child at the youth center.

 

In brainstorming, I've had a few different people offer to "adopt a kid" and so we started having the kids make Santa letters. To do this, I've made a google spreadsheet, so that people can put in their name and contact info if their going to do this for one of our children. We have a lot of kids on the list already (and many more to come). If you have questions about a child, I know them well so I can help give suggestions. So I need help finding more people to adopt; ie buy at least one present for a child, wrap it, put their name on it, and coordinate with me to have it to the youth center by 12/20/10.

 

I spoke with one of our Northeastern volunteers, Abby, who's going to try to reach out to more students/ people at NEU. Also some people from my church (who first gave me the idea) and for those of you who are hearing about this for the first time I'm hoping that you can also spread this around to help us make these holidays special for the kids. If this works it will be a LOT better than the way we've done it in the past because the kids will be getting things they really want! (We'll still need generic gifts wrapped and labeled for age and gender because there are always kids who come who aren't a regular part of the youth center especially the 1-5 year olds, but we're expecting some gifts to still come from Toys for Tots).

 

So far we have about 20 kids on the list (and many more are still to come) and I've put the top 3 things each kid wants. (Some are realistic and some aren't). All kids love Silly bands and Silly rings, gift cards to foot locker and I think ipod touch can be substituted for a shuffle or maybe something refurbished (if there's any affordable refurbs our there right now, I recommend dealmac.com). The kids also LOVE Northface, but I don't know what to do about that. . ..

 

Here's the link to the spreadsheet:

 

/span>https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AiGiGuEdjZQQdG1iY09ubHpyZC0xUXRJV3pLUERLRGc&authkey=CJyIxkE&hl=en#gid=0>

 

Lastly, we will know by next week whether we're having a party. we won't make it a big invite for people outside the community since the center is still under construction. If we are, we welcome donations of new or gently used holiday decorations. We'll also need help wrapping the Toys for Tots gifts, decorating the center on 12/21 and of course donations to help pay for food, raffle prizes for teens and adults and more. The 6-9 grade planning team are working on outreach to kids, but we need help engaging parents and helping with lot of other party details!

 

Thank you,

Maura

--
Maura Ramsey
Director, South Street Youth Center
southstreetyouth@gmail.com
617.477.8263

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Comment by Joseph Porcelli (Chief Neighbor) on December 17, 2010 at 12:00pm

EDITORS UPDATE: 12/17/2010 12:00 PM (Cross posted from here).

 

Hey everyone,
Thanks for your generosity - the kids are super excited! OMG!!!!
Here is what we still need:
  • Wrapped and labeled gifts for about 20 more kids - sign up here.
  • Wrapping papper
  • Gentle used Christmas Decorations
  • Gift Cards from Local Businesses - sign up here.
Drop of times:
  • Saturday 12/18 - 10 am and 2pm
  • Monday 12/20 - 2 pm  and 4 pm
Address:
  • 15 St. Rose Street, Rear Basement. The first door, on the first side, of the first brick building, behind the houses that line South Street.
Can't find the Youth Center?
  • Call 617-477-8263.

 

Comment by South Street Youth Center on December 16, 2010 at 5:29pm

Hi All,

I don't know how to respond to individuals on this, so if you have further or specific questions Please email me at <southstreetyouth@gmail.com>. I will be happy to tell you as much as I can. If feasible, I would love to have gifts dropped off this Saturday 12/18  in the youth center between 10am and 2pm, but the earlier the better so that we can make sure that everything is accounted for before the day is over! The address is 15 Saint Rose St, Rear Basement. Its the 1st door on the 1st side of the 1st brick building just behind the houses that line South St. Its the right side of Saint Rose and if you need to, there's usually plenty of parking on Saint Rose.

If Saturday doesn't work for you, we can make other arrangements, but again please email me.

Thank you,

Maura

 

Comment by Loay on December 16, 2010 at 1:32pm

What time can I drop off the toys? I work in Cambridge and would rather pass by after work at 6pm

 

Let me know please

 

Loay

Comment by chris Devlin on December 16, 2010 at 11:28am

hey,

 

I found a store on centre street that has some North Face winter caps. Would it be helpfum if I picked some up and dropped them somewhere, I could do this saturday.

Comment by Anna Sandoval on December 16, 2010 at 10:56am

I just went into the google document and it appears that there are several teens that don't have sponsors yet but also don't have much information on what they want. What should we do in those cases? suggestions? Thanks!

Anna

Comment by Angie VM on December 15, 2010 at 7:03pm

I think the toys can be delivered to the youth center on or before 12/20.  The center is the municipal building on centre/south right next to the library, right?

 

Thanks 

Comment by Loay on December 15, 2010 at 9:55am

Hi Maura

 

can you let me know where you want the toys I bought delivered and what would be a good time?

 

Loay

 

Comment by South Street Youth Center on December 13, 2010 at 3:44pm

Hi neighbors,

Thank you SOOOOOOO much for your generosity for signing up to adopt kids for the gift giving as well as the other generous offers! 

 

The teen staff were so excited about the response that we received on the initial gift list that they went and talked to every family that lives in the development! Some of them we don't know as well in the youth center because the kids are still too young. Because of their enthusiasm, we have a lot more kids then for which I had initially planned. I highlighted the kids in blue that we have as a priority to be "adopted". So please continue to spread the word and this amazing generous spirit so that we can hopefully match the excitement of the youth staff! 

 

Also, a lot of things have fallen into place for us, where due to the support of a volunteer crew as well as a lot of different people on-site, we're going to be able to move forward with the holiday party in the youth center space (which is best because we won't need to arrange for transportation  or any of the other additional logistics that could be extra-challenging!) 

 

We are still looking for more people to "adopt" the rest of the youth on our list and that takes precedent over anything else. However, we're also still looking for more: gently used decorations, prizes (such as gift cards from local businesses :JP Licks, Real Deal and salons/ barber shops are very popular, gift cards to Dunkin Donuts and Footlocker are also very exciting).

 

We also accept monetary donations, but I'm more hesitant on that, however, if you prefer that, please contact me and I will send you the information to our fiscal agent.

 

Lastly, if anyone would like a letter saying that you donated to a non-profit, please let me know and I would be happy to provide that information (although it will not be until January).

 

There are no words that can even begin to express the gratitude I feel for the generosity we've witnessed so far. On behalf of our youth in South St. (the majority whom are unaware of all of this) thank you so much for making these holidays special for them. Receiving a gift that they have specifically asked for from Santa will make the magic of the season more real for them. I personally think everyone of these kids is absolutely amazing and deserves the best that life has to offer. Your support is making that happen for each one of them this December .

Thank you,

Maura 

southstreetyouth@gmail.com

p:617.477.8263

Comment by chris on December 10, 2010 at 8:14pm

Just added my name for one of the boys... easy way to spread some Holiday Joy

Comment by Sgt. Eric Krause on December 10, 2010 at 8:05am

IF you have any specific questions about the event you shold email or call Maura Ramsey.  Her email is southstreetyouth@gmail.com and her phone # is 617-477-8263. 

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