What do the holidays mean to you?

Imagine being a teenager in need or one forced into foster care through no fault of your own. Imagine seeing families around you that are together enjoying the holidays when your own life is in flux, you’ve run away from home, or been forced into protective care with people you don’t know. Imagine asking yourself, “why me?”

What happens in childhood is so important in determining how an individual relates to society. Many of these teenagers have never owned something new, have never had a good role model from whom to seek counsel, and have never had a stable home.

There are many wonderful programs that provide gifts to needy younger children. The mission of Totes4Teens is to let these teenagers know that they are NOT forgotten. Receiving the many gifts and donations each holiday season from our program that is geared specifically for them, lets them know that many people want to make their holidays a special time. We want the holidays to mean so much more to these teenagers than a reminder that they are not with families or have been overlooked.

Totes4Teens hopes the gesture of these annual gifts resonates with the recipients and they extend this gesture and kindness as they go forward in their own lives.