Vancouver, WA, November 18, 2024 - YWCA Clark County is seeking local businesses and community members donate new unwrapped toys and gifts by Monday, December 16 to make Holiday Shop magical for families in need.
Holiday Shop allows participants from YWCA's SafeChoice Domestic Violence Program, Sexual Assault Program, and Y's Care Therapeutic Preschool Program to select gifts for their families at no cost, providing empowering shopping experience over three days in December.
Businesses can participate by hosting gift tags for their employees, customers, or members to select and purchase gifts; or share the Amazon and Target Holiday Shop wish lists via company email or internal newsletters. The team at Anytime Fitness in Vancouver put out a challenge to their members that each gift will equal ten burpees for staff, all for a good cause.
"Our Holiday Shop is more than just gift-giving; it's about giving back power and autotomy to those that have survived domestic violence and sexual assault. Financial abuse is part of domestic violence and often survivors worry about gift giving over the holidays as they enter our SafeChoice Domestic Violence programming,” says Brittini Lasseigne, YWCA Clark County CEO. "We're calling on our community to help make this holiday season special for these resilient families.”
The deadline for gift donations is Monday, December 16. Individuals can also volunteer at the event as gift wrappers for three hours shifts from December 17-19.
The Holiday Shop is organized to provide a range of gifts, including stocking stuffers, small gifts, medium gifts ($10-25 range), large gifts ($25+), teen gifts, and household items. Each child typically receives a carefully curated selection of gifts across these categories.
For those unable to host gift tags, YWCA Clark County offers alternative ways to contribute:
- Purchasing directly from the organization's Amazon or Target wish lists.
- Volunteering time to wrap gifts at the Holiday Shop.
- Making monetary donations to support the program.
"The generosity of our community partners is crucial in making the Holiday Shop a success," added Erin Stepanek, YWCA Community Relations Officer. "Every contribution, big or small, helps us create a magical holiday experience for those who need it most."
For more information on how to get involved with the Holiday Shop program, visit https://www.ywcaclarkcounty.org/holiday-shop.
About YWCA Clark County:
Founded in 1916, YWCA Clark County is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. YWCA Clark County began as a lunch counter serving women in the workforce. Today, the organization offers six core programs where women, children and men find safe harbor from domestic violence and sexual assault to begin their journey to healing and hope. For more information about YWCA Clark County, please visit: www.ywcaclarkcounty.org
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