In this issue: Join our annual Holiday Drive; November is HOPE month; and United Way rallies for annual campaign.
Help Spread Magic This Holiday Season
Join Youth In Need’s annual Holiday Drive and the many generous supporters in our community who are gearing up to ensure every one of the 8,000 children, teens and families we serve has a memorable holiday. Now through Dec. 6, many local businesses, individuals, schools and community groups will donate items from our wish list to support programs throughout the agency. To learn more about this year’s Holiday Drive, email Andy Perry, Development Services Manager, view the general wish list or shop from the Amazon wish list and send your donation directly to us. You also can support the drive by making a cash gift online.
Also back this year is the 15th annual Boatload of Toys drive with local radio station 93.7 The Bull! Radio personalities will be outside Bass Pro Shops in St. Charles on Dec. 7, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Dec. 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., filling boats with toys, hygiene supplies, books and more for Youth In Need. The station kicks off the Boatload of Toys drive with its annual Santa Jam concert on Friday, Dec. 6, at Stifel Theatre.
November Is Youth Homelessness, Outreach, Prevention, and Education (HOPE) Month
Approximately 4.2 million young people, ages 13 to 25, experience some sort of homelessness in the United States each year, with considerably more experiencing crises that put them at risk of facing similar housing insecurities. Once a young person faces the instability associated with homelessness, whether they are couch surfing, staying in shelters or sleeping on the streets, the consequences can be
far-reaching. And some youth, including young people who identify as Black and/or African American, LGBTQIA2S+, non-White, and/or unmarried and parenting, experience homelessness at significantly higher rates compared to their peers.
November is Youth Homelessness, Outreach, Prevention, and Education (HOPE) Month, a public awareness campaign that shines a light on youth homelessness, educates the public about the role they can play in preventing and ending youth homelessness and increases visibility of the critical services offered to vulnerable youth nationwide.
Our Street Outreach Program, Emergency Shelter, Transitional Living Program, Supported Apartments Program and Maternity Group Home are part of those “critical services” that support youth experiencing homelessness 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Learn more about how these programs are making a difference.
United Way Rallies for Annual Campaign
This month, the United Way of Greater St. Louis wrapped up its annual fundraising campaign, which supports a safety net of more than 160 nonprofit partner organizations in the St. Louis region including Youth In Need. In fact, Youth In Need also wrapped up its own internal fundraising campaign for the United Way this month with a spirit week after our staff donated $10,500 to the campaign!
For more than 100 years, the United Way has been helping people to create a stronger, healthier and more equitable region for all. With a continued focus on creating a strong safety net of nonprofits that can meet the vast needs of our community, the United Way’s vital funding helps us provide critical and direct services to children and families in the St. Louis region. And the best part of the United Way’s funding is that is flexible, allowing us to apply funds where they are most needed each year. To learn more about how United Way supports the St. Louis region, visit helpingpeople.org.
