San Jose AAUW provides gifts for at-risk South Bay teens

While volunteering at Sacred Heart Community Services, Elaine Benoit observed that during the holiday season, there would be a multitude of gifts for children but barely anything for teenagers. Twenty-three years later, the nonprofit Gifts for Teens (GFT) is still going strong under the auspices of the San Jose branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW).

The nonprofit’s focus is on helping the neediest youth in the area—in particular, homeless teenagers and young adults aging out of foster care, two groups that may be even more vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Homeless young people are floundering; many have no place to sleep except on the streets,” Benoit said.

GFT provides gift packs to organizations that work with these populations. For instance, Unity Care provides transitional housing, Bill Wilson Center provides assistance and shelter and Advent helps those with substance abuse issues.

The Bill Wilson Center has 22 locations in cities including Sunnyvale, Santa Clara and San Jose, where homeless youth can get hot meals and use drop-in laundry and shower facilities.

“The items in these bags make a world of difference in the daily lives of our clients,” said Pilar Furlong of the Bill Wilson Center. “They have no access to basic necessities.”

A gift bag consists of a new sturdy duffel or tote bag crammed with items likely to appeal to youth. These include brand-new sweatshirts, personal care items, packets of school supplies, gift cards to Target or Walmart, playing card packs, cosmetics for girls and handheld games and other items for guys. As Benoit explains, the gift cards are particularly useful as their merchandise includes food, clothing, hygiene items and household necessities. During the current pandemic, hand sanitizer is being added to these bags.

The 18 members of GFT’s volunteer steering committee come from Campbell, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Saratoga and Los Gatos, as well as San Jose. Purchasing gifts is a time-consuming project, with members searching for bargains all year. They also call on area high school students to conduct fundraising drives and assist with bagging.

“There is a student club at Pioneer, and they have great ideas,” Benoit said. “They write a personal note in each bag and have also made friendship bracelets.”

Other organizations that support GFT include the Almaden Valley Women’s Club, the History Club of Los Gatos and the National Charity League.

Due to the pandemic, all bagging must be completed outdoors by midOctober. For more info and to donate, visit www. gifts4teens.org.