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At Home for Little Wanderers, donations for teens lag

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December 22, 2011|By John M. Guilfoil

Donations for charities are picking up as Christmas approaches. But at one charity, there’s still one group that’s in danger of going without: teenagers.

At the Home for Little Wanderers, which provides shelter and in-home services for thousands of families across the state, donations of gift cards and other presents for teenagers are down 33 percent from last year’s totals, with a deadline of 8 p.m. Thursday looming.

“A lot of programs actually have a cutoff age of 12, and once you turn 13, they don’t collect gifts for you anymore,” said Heather MacFarlane, a spokeswoman for the non-profit. “But how do you say to a teenager ‘You don’t get any gifts this year?’”

MacFarlane said the group believes the numbers are down because it is easier to buy general toys and gifts for babies and young children, while teenagers often ask for specific items that other kids their age have, such as Mp3 players, brand-name hooded sweatshirts, and video games.

“It provides them with a sense of normalcy,” MacFarlane said.

Some teenagers, however, are not asking for iPods and Best Buy gift cards. They are asking for grocery store gift certificates.

“They’re remarkable. Some recognize that mom or dad is out of work and struggling financially, and they desperately need food,” MacFarlane said. “That could put an extra meal on the table. It says a lot about these kids.”

To donate, visit the Home for Little Wanderers toy room at 161 South Huntington Ave. or go to TheHome.org.