2013 Holiday Party for Youth – Merry, Festive & Bright!
On December 16th, University District Service Providers Alliance (UDSPA) worked with the community to throw a holiday celebration for homeless and street-involved young people! The UDSPA Holiday Party is often the only holiday celebration many youth in need will have this season.
The party is a special opportunity for youth and the service providers and volunteers who support them can take a moment to celebrate together. The service providers’ donned fun costumes and live music from The Brad Papineau trio helped make the occasion bright. Generous Holiday Tree donors donated, shopped, shipped and mailed items to fulfill holiday gift requests from youth, ensuring every young person had a holiday gift to open. Volunteers specially wrapped each one, and placed under a freshly cut and decorated tree. Many of them included sweet holiday messages like, “Stay safe. You are loved.” A special general store was set-up where young people could use funny money to “purchase” select the basic needs items they need, including warm coats, blankets, sleeping bags, shoes and more which were donated by community partners. As so many of the youth we serve love to read, tables full of new books were offered to young people as well. A delicious dinner was prepared by returning meal team, the Dharma Punx, which consist of former UDSPA service providers. Rounding out the meal was a special ice cream dessert bar (with loads of toppings) hosted by our friends at University of Washington’s Advancement Department. Scroll down to see photos from this year’s party.
We would like to extend a tremendous thank you to everyone who made the UDSPA Holiday Party experience possible. We could not provide for youth without your support!
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
- Our Generous Individual Donors!
- Field Roast Company
- Holiday Stockings for Homeless Youth
- Longshoremans Local 19
- Meghan Hampton, photographer
- Sean Beaudoin, book-wrangler
- University Congregational Church of Christ
- University of Washington Advancement
- Zumiez
University District Service Providers Alliance (UDSPA) is a coalition of nonprofit organizations in Seattle’s University District working together to create a comprehensive continuum of care for homeless and street-involved youth and young adults. The UDSPA helps agencies share resources and work together efficiently while pursuing our shared mission of providing quality, compassionate services and support.
If you have any questions about the Holiday Party for Youth, please reach holidayparty@teenfeed.org or 206.949.1092.