We share holiday joy with local teenagers who may otherwise miss out.
Be the connection.
Located in Columbus, OH and available to residents of Franklin County.
Every family has their own unique strengths and challenges.
Sometimes parents must work multiple jobs to make ends meet and illness, incarceration, or other family emergencies can have a devastating impact on the family system. Teenagers may have to help with childcare and housework while they try to juggle school and a social life.
The price of everything has gone up and sometimes when families are struggling financially, young people turn to unconventional, risky ways of making money.
Being a teenager is tough enough!
There are many agencies who do an excellent job of linking families with young children to holiday relief, but those who are twelve to eighteen are often forgotten. Gifting Youth Joy is 501c3 non-profit organization that connects youth with holiday gifts through donations and fundraising. We run on love and the kindness of others. As much as we would like to help every family, we can only take on a limited amount. Please see application instructions below.
Our Story:
Ellie: “I once worked with a family who was really struggling. They experienced a lot of devastation in one year and this single mom, who was desperately trying to find the money for rent, realized that she was not going to be able to afford Christmas presents for her kids. After a year filled with darkness, she just wanted to be able to give her two teenagers and toddler a ray of light and hope. There were plenty of resources to link the toddler with presents. After searching for weeks and calling everyone I could think of, I could not find anyone to donate gifts for the teens. At that point, I was either going to have to give up or come up with a solution myself.”
Eryca: “Ellie and I met while volunteering with women’s outreach. She came to me looking for help finding holiday gifts for a family she was working with. My parents, my friend Bella, and I teamed up to shop and donate gifts to the two teens in the family. I couldn’t believe there wasn’t a local organization that provided holiday gifts for teenagers! A few weeks later Ellie came to me and asked, “what if we started a nonprofit for teens?!” And the rest was history! During our time working together in retail, Ziggy and I learned many young people wanted basic hygiene products as holiday gifts. I was able to provide some of the most popular products to our recipients.
Ziggy: “After working with youth and families in a variety of social work settings, I learned about the many reasons why they often could not make ends meet. Young people told me “I had to take on all the cooking and cleaning when my mom got sick. My dad has two jobs but I might need to find one for the weekends.” Rather than steal or face the pressure of being left out, some resorted to selling drugs or their bodies to afford the phones and shoes their parents regrettably could not provide. The stress of intersectionality can greatly impact social skills, coping skills, and relationships with others. I’m so grateful my work has connected me with Ellie and Eryca. We hope to raise awareness and help teens in our community to feel seen, heard, and appreciated.”
Our Team
-
Eryca Rivera
President
I am a Sales Manager who has volunteered with youth and adults at a local domestic violence shelter. I also act as a liaison between the non-profit and our retail sponsors.
-
Eleanor Church
Treasurer
I’m a Qualified Mental Health Specialist who works with people struggling with severe mental health issues that are impacted significantly by poverty. I also facilitate women empowerment support groups.
-
Ziggy Cicchella
Secretary
I’m a Licensed Independent Social Worker in private practice and I empower my clients through individual therapy, creative arts, job readiness training, and linkage to resources.
Do I Qualify for Gifting Youth Joy?
“Do I live in Franklin County?”
Yes - We cannot give in other counties at this time.
“Do I have a financial or family hardship?”
Yes - My family has deeply lost income or support this year.
“Is my age between 12 to 18?”
Yes - I am older than 11 and younger than 19.
“Do I qualify for other resources or benefits?”
Yes - I receive SSDI, medicaid, SNAP, WIC, housing assistance, etc.
How to apply for Gifting Youth Joy
-
1. Complete application
-
2. Schedule intake interview
-
3. Arrange pickup or delivery of gifts
Gifting Youth Joy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, ability, HIV, marital, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.