An acquaintance of mine sent this on to me, she is going to be playing Santa at Sylvia’s Place Homeless Youth Shelter again this year, and they need donated gifts for queer youth.
If you want to be a Gay Santa, they’ll send you a “dear santa” letter from one of the youth, and then you an drop off or mail the gift with their name on it back to the shelter. if you’ve got the means, it sounds like a really fun process to be a part of! I’m excited to participate.
More information about Sylvia’s Place: We provide emergency shelter to homeless LGBTQ youth in New York City. A 2006 report from the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force estimates that a third of homeless youth identify as LGBT. In New York City, this means that something like 8,000 to 10,000 youth are without shelter every night. This has led many to refer to this as an “epidemic” of homelessness among LGBTQ youth. Find out more…
Gay Santa wrote:
Happy Holidays from Sylvia’s Place Homeless Youth Center! We are hoping you will consider being a ‘Gay Santa’ this year.
To participate, send us your postal mailing address and you will be sent a “Dear Santa” letter from a homeless young person asking for a gift. Wrapped gifts, labeled with the young person’s name, can be mailed or dropped off at the shelter: Metropolitan Community Church , 446 W 36th st, NYC NY 10018
Our goal is to make sure each of our young people receive a gift this Christmas. With your support, we know this goal will become a reality.
Many thanks and warm holiday wishes,
Kate Barnhart, Director
MCCNY/Homeless Youth Services
446 W 36th St, NYC NY 10018
Thanks for posting this. How much do you think the gifts will cost? If the kid asks for Jordans, s/he will be sorely dissapointed. haha! Seriously, I will def. be participating– by purchasing items on the wish list if not through the gay santa program.
that’s a good question – I may email that person & ask. maybe there’s a range of gifts requested, or a range of prices given to the kids. no idea. I’ll let you know what I find out.