The city of Boulder Parks and Recreation Department's Youth Services Initiative (YSI) program is working to brighten children's holidays this season with help from the community and the Boulder Fire Department's IAFF Local 900 union.
YSI provides youth from low-income families with opportunities and resources necessary to make positive recreational, educational and lifestyle choices through after-school programs and community involvement activities.
This year, YSI will host several holiday parties for program youth and their families during the week of December 15. Last year's holiday parties served over 150 families and delivered nearly 500 gifts to the children.
IAFF Local 900 support of YSI
The Boulder Fire Department's IAFF Local 900 union will donate money for the second consecutive year. These donations will help purchase gifts for children served by the YSI program who are living at Boulder's low-income housing sites (managed by Boulder Housing Partners). The firefighters say this is a way to give back to kids in their very own community.
"We wanted to be able to put toys in the hands of the kids we see in school and while running calls in their neighborhoods," said Lt.
John Nunez. "The kids are just in awe when we show up in uniform and in our fire trucks."
Nunez has been involved with the department's toy drive efforts for 15 years and says the the parents' reactions are just as exciting as the children's. "This is just really touching for them. In some cases, this may be the only Christmas present their child is going to get. It's a great feeling to be able to help, but it's also a humbling feeling."
Community asked to help with donations
YSI is asking residents who wish to support the YSI holiday parties and future programs to make donations at
www.BoulderParks-Rec.org, click on the "Youth Services toy drive - Donate today!" and follow the instructions. A secure PayPal connection is provided and personal informationwill not beshared. Donations can be made using a major credit card or PayPal account. A small processing fee is deducted by PayPal from all donations. All donors will receive a receipt from PayPal and a thank you from YSI. Checks can also be made payable to "YSI" and submitted to YSI, Attn: Alex Zinga, 3198 Broadway Ave., Boulder, CO 80304.
Additional funding over the amount needed for the toy drive will be placed in the YSI Scholarship Fund, which helps fund year-round recreation programs for low-income youth.
For more information, call Alex Zinga, Youth Services Initiative, at 303-413-7204.