November 6, 2007

Paying it forward

By Jeanne C. Carbone
Editor

With Christmas less than two months away, the elves are busy. Campbell’s Virginia Beck is one of them.
Beck is one of a group of people who every year creates Holiday Gifts for Teens, an often forgotten segment of the low income population.

From 2006, a display of the Gifts for Teens girls’ totes that is ready for distribution to needy teenagers. Photos courtesy of Gifts for Teens

“When you help anyone it strengthens the community as a whole,” said Beck. “And perhaps you’ll be a model for someone else.”

Beck’s busily sending over 130 letters to previous individual and company donors who have supported the Holiday Gifts for Teens as well as collecting donations. She admits that the best time is when the dedicated group of volunteers package the items in back packs. The goal this year is to create 1,300 gift bags, filling 650 girls’ tote bags and 550 nylon/canvas boys’ duffle bags.

Besides the approximately 300 individuals and businesses who donate items, local schools help as well. The gifts will be assembled Dec. 10 through Dec 15. and distributed through Sacred Heart Community Service, Bill Wilson Center and EHC LifeBuilders.

All must be new items. The teenagers are used to second hand items. Gifts for Teens will accept logo T-shirts, jackets, sports bas, ball caps, Frisbees, pens and the like are welcome from companies. But Beck is equally excited when a donor sends in a five dollar check or donates a new lipstick or shampoo as it all helps.

Many businesses like Cisco offer matching gift programs if employees donate. Cash is gold where American Association of University Women [AAUW]-San Jose Branch, which is the sponsoring organization, can purchase items in quantity at wholesale prices. Grants have been received from the Rotary Club of San Jose, Xilinx Corp, the Almaden Valley Women’s Club and Lancome USA.

Since 1997, AAUW together with community volunteers has created Holiday Gifts for Teens—a segment of the population living below the poverty line often forgotten. Most groups collect toys and gifts for younger children and adults with teenagers left out. AAUW saw a need and filled it under director Elaine Benoit.

“Gifts for Teens, the gift bag project benefiting low-income teenagers, is in its tenth year,” said Benoit.

“Throughout this time, the dynamic women on the steering committee have given of their time, enthusiasm and volunteer labor to make this project such a rousing success. Gifts for Teens wouldn’t happen without their efforts. These women model generosity of spirit in helping others in the community.”

A boys’ sports bag has everything that would make the Christmas special for a guy.

Beck retired from San Jose where she managed the employee training program saying, “I loved it but it was time.” Her four children are grown and have left the family home in Campbell where Beck has lived for 31-years. She is an AAUW member and currently is serving as treasurer. She had volunteered at the Sacred Heart’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors Project Linus knitting project.

Beck likes to spend her retirement time helping others. She volunteers at Valley Medical Center working the information desk, but hopes to work the neo-natal unit and be a nana to care for the infants. She also donates her time to the Bill Wilson Center homeless teen drop-in center. She also finds time to be a conflict mediator for Santa Clara County.

“I’m very lucky,” said Beck. “My four kids are here as well as my two grandkids. I wanted to give back to the community. I help because it’s so worthwhile.”

Time is short for the Holiday Gifts for Teens project. They need donations of sports items, gift certificates, jewelry, calculators, grooming products, clothing, radios, back packs and the like to fill their goal of 1,300 back packs to brighten the Christmas season for needy teenagers.

To donate teen appropriate gifts or volunteer for Gifts for Teens contact project coordinator Elaine Benoit at ebenoit@pacbell.net or call (408) 268-9654.