Generosity for at-risk and homeless teens

The holiday season always seems to bring out the generous spirits in our community and this year is no different.  In just the past two days, we've experienced the following here at HOME:
-  A longtime friend of HOME dropped off a check and a smoked turkey.
-  A doctor's office brought by cash totalling $100 and assorted items from our Wish List
-  A generous lady brought by 15 NEW BACKPACKS plus games and clothing
- Two festively dressed employees of Chemeketa's Center for Business & Industry (our neighbor) walked two FULL carts carrying LOTS of backpacks, games, toiletries and other items down the street to HOME.
- A couple brought in a used guitar, along with a check.  The youth here LOVE to sit around and listen to/strum guitars.  The two we have currently only have 4 strings each.  (They should have 6).
- St. Marks Lutheran Church has 10 gift cards for $25 for us to distribute.
- A student at Central High School in Independence held a teen clothing drive for HOME as a senior project.  Today he brought several boxes and bags worth of shoes and clothes, separated by gender.
- Employees from SAIF brought by a great assortment of backpacks and other items from our Wish List.
-  The Youth Junk 2 Fashion Funk Team from Blanchette Catholic School sent me their very creative flyer for the fashion show fund-raiser they're putting on for HOME in January.  Here's the link:

http://youthjunkfashionfunk.webs.com/.  What a creative and enthusiastic group!

With all this largesse coming in, it would be pretty overwhelming for our small staff to deal with.  HOWEVER, we've been blessed AGAIN with a volunteer who's a perfect match for the monumental task of organizing it all.  I first met Jennifer Hofman several years ago when she worked on the Backpack Project for HOME at Willamette University.

Jen is one of those people who looks at clutter and, instead of fainting, is able to see the order in things.  In fact, she now has an online business helping others, especially people with home businesses, to get -and stay - on top of that chaos.  She's taking a brief break from her business during the holidays and what does she do with her valuable free time?  Volunteers here at HOME, organizing our holiday gift room.  And doing an awesome job, too.

(Here's Jen's website: Inspiredhomeoffice.com)

Speaking of which, I've got to start tackling the piles in my office and beginning sending out Thank You notes to all these wonderful people who are making the holidays so special for the teens who come to HOME.