Black Achievers Shine On With Their Holiday Community Initiative
In 2022, our Black Achievers Mentorship Program leadership group held a toy drive where they collected and distributed 100 toys to families in the community. In 2023, their goal was to plan a holiday event for our program participants, mentors, and volunteers and to give back to their community through an outreach initiative.
After much deliberation and consideration about issues like food bank usage and family food shortages in the community, the leadership group decided to assist in their own way. The idea of our Community Christmas Food Basket initiative was born.
12 Days of Christmas Food Baskets
The group made the initiative a cheerful experience by distributing 12 food baskets and grocery gift cards to 12 families in the community to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas! They marketed their Christmas food baskets through the internet, flyers, and word of mouth. They collected donations from grocery stores, and food and gift card donations poured in from friends, family of program participants, YMCA staff, and community members. Black Achievers youth collected over 200 food items, hygienic products, and $500 worth of grocery store gift cards as a result of the food drive.
The group advertised the nomination flyer within the community; families could self-nominate or nominate another family. Nominations poured in quickly, showing how important initiatives like this are for our community. We chose families based on their needs, like family size, kids' ages, and finances. Then, we invited them to celebrate with our Black Achievers family and receive their baskets.
Holiday Cheer & Giving
On the evening of December 9, 2023, Black Achievers youths, mentors, volunteers, staff, and the 12 chosen families came together for a night of food, games, laughter, and celebration. Families expressed deep gratitude for the Black Achievers Youth Leadership Group’s initiative. One basket recipient, a single mother of three, said, “You don’t know how much you have helped my family this holiday season; thank you so much for everything.” We will never forget the smiles on the children’s faces that night.
We would like to formally congratulate the leadership group for planning another successful holiday event and distributing 12 food baskets and grocery gift cards to community members. To show appreciation for their dedication, our leadership group was presented with leadership awards and gifts.
Keep up the great work. We are so proud of you. Continue to Shine On! We look forward to your future accomplishments.
Special thanks to program staff Samantha Adebiyi, Tonicia James, and Nikashia Ramdhani for their ongoing guidance, support, and facilitation of the group’s efforts. And thank you to every Y staff member, family, and community member for your thoughtful donation to the food drive. You made this possible, and for that, we thank you.
Take a look at the events of the night here.
