Youth Holiday Giveaway for Giving Back

The holiday program further supports The Missing Link’s organizational mission of equipping our youth with tools and skills to address trauma and lead productive lives. Continuing with our work to provide opportunities for social connectivity and practice using practical coping skills to deal with the stresses of the pandemic, The Holiday Giveaway empowers youth to experience the joy of giving back to their communities while receiving complimentary gifts during the holiday season.

Youth will participate in a group zoom-style meeting for a session focused on practicing gratitude. Students will be provided with an art kit to create postcards and cloth masks for community distribution to Mothers of missing children in Cuyahoga County.

Target: 45 High School students in Cuyahoga County. Students must be at least 15 years old to participate, as we are intentionally targeting the demographic that have surpassed the age limit associated with Toys for Tots (which services newborn to 14 in Cuyahoga County).

Outcomes:

• Connect youth to their community while promoting pro-social interaction
• Exposes youth to an interactive, covid-friendly method of giving back
• Empowering youth to be change agents

Physical Donations Accepted:

• hat/gloves
• handheld massagers
• stress balls
• journals
• sketchbooks
• markers
• colors pencils

December 1st - December 11th

• Collect donations of funds and physical items
• Confirm high school participants and point of contact at the school
• Coordinate fundraiser campaign on social media, via email and word of mouth
• Confirm time for group zoom session for postcard development

December 16th -17th

• Facilitate a group session on gratitude.
• Guide youth through the development of postcards and masks

December 19

• Collect postcards and masks from youth and deliver gift packages (coping box, hygiene kits, hat/glove set, and $10 gift card)

December 20-22

• Deliver/mail postcards and masks to parents

This Holiday Giveaway is important for many reasons:

• Promotes pro-social interaction and consideration for others
• Empowers youth to be change agents and recognize their ability to influence their community
• Let's parents of missing children know that they are not forgotten this holiday season
• Brings awareness to the importance of adopting positive coping mechanisms