Take a moment to sit back, close your eyes, and ask yourself this
simple question: What am I thankful for? There are many things that
could come to mind. Maybe you are thankful that you have never gone
without a roof over your head or food on your plate. Perhaps you are
thankful to be in good health. Or maybe you are thankful for that
person in your life that cared about you when you were going through
some hard times and it seemed like nobody ever would. Or for that
organization that stepped in to advocate for you and support you when
you needed it the most.
Now ask yourself this: What if you couldn’t think of anything to be
thankful for? Some people will ask themselves that question and will
not be able to find an answer. Maybe you are one of them. Whether
you are or not, there are things that you can do to help make sure
that no child in San Francisco ever asks herself that question and
cannot come up with an answer. City Youth Now can make much progress
toward that goal, but not without your help.
City Youth Now has a number of volunteer opportunities for anyone
interested in giving every San Francisco child in crisis something to
be thankful for. San Francisco youth that have been removed from
their homes and placed in the foster care system or who get into
trouble with the Juvenile Justice System can experience major
disruptions in the normal flow of their education. You can give these
children a chance to be thankful for having someone to help get them
back on track by volunteering as a tutor in the Woodside Learning Center (within the Juvenile Justice Center) or the Early Morning Study Academy (for youth on probation). There are also opportunities to tutor individual youth who need help in particular subject areas or who are studying to take the GED.
You could also volunteer some of your time at the “Corner Store” in
order to help keep it running. Families who come to the Juvenile Justice Center to attend court proceedings or who are visiting detained youth
appreciate the convenience of being able to purchase a small snack, a gift for a loved one, or perhaps a thank you card for someone they appreciate.
Our office needs help too. We would love to have you help with data
entry and light office work or assist with some of our direct
mailings. This kind of help allows us to keep our costs down and
ensures that we can devote as much of our resources as possible to the
youth that need it. Yet another way you can get involved is to
coordinate a toy drive. It takes little more than sending out an email to your co-workers and can warm the hearts of many children who might not otherwise receive any gifts over the holidays.
Our volunteers are a critical asset in helping ensure that ever child
in our community receives support and services that generate a sense
of self worth and dignity. Click here
(http://www.cityyouthnow.org/get-involved/volunteer-today) for more
information about how you can help support San Francisco youth through
our programs. If you are unable to donate your time, you can also
click here (http://www.cityyouthnow.org/get-involved/donate-now) to
make a quick and easy financial contribution. Either way, your help
can ensure that all children in San Francisco have something to be
thankful for.
