Last Wednesday, YouthLink held their annual Thanksgiving dinner for homeless youth in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Each year over 100 homeless youth are served a traditional Thanksgiving meal of Turkey, stuffing, potatoes, fruit and deserts to allow those without a home to celebrate Thanksgiving and get a sense of normalcy during the stressful holiday season. This year, with the help of 24 volunteers, and food donations from local donors, YouthLink served over 120 young adults and children a Thanksgiving meal. During the evening the residents ate, socialized, and shared what they were thankful for by writing it down and putting it on a decorative tree. When asked about the evening a YouthLink representative said, “It was a really spirited event, it was a light hearted atmosphere as the youth, staff, and volunteers came together to celebrate the holiday.”
YouthLink was founded in 1974 to respond to the needs of homeless youth in the metro area. YouthLink helps those between 16-21 years old that have found themselves without a home at anytime be it for one night or for years. In 2010 YouthLink saw more than 1,400 young people and it is estimated that 1,200 youth are homeless on any given night in Minnesota. In 2010 YouthLink was chosen to become the host site for the Youth Opportunity Center (YOC) by Hennepin County as part of their Heading Home Hennepin ten-year initiative to end homelessness. Since officially opening the YOC, YouthLink has seen a dramatic increase in number of homeless youth served.
On Wednesday, December 21st,YouthLink will host its annual holiday party where an estimated 300 youth will come to celebrate the holidays. Festivities of the night include a holiday meal, visits from Santa, a stop at the Holiday shop where youth can pick out a free gift for a loved one, and enjoy other activities. If you would like to get involved with YouthLink or their holiday party visit their website to see how you can donate food or items for the Holiday Shop . Items most needed include boneless hams, potatoes, fresh fruit, drinks, desserts, and items from their Target registry. For more information on donations and getting involved please contact Kathleen Smith, Communications and Volunteer Coordinator, at 612-252-1211 or smith4@youthlinkmn.org.
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