Each year Youth & Shelter Services, Inc. (YSS) seeks sponsors for income restricted and deserving families for the holidays. This year we expect over 300 families to request help to make their holidays brighter and more joy-filled, especially for the children. Each family participates in a YSS program and has been identified as a family in need for the holidays.
There are two ways that community members can help brighten the holidays for our deserving clients and participants:
Sponsor a Family
The sponsor chooses how many family members or individuals they would like to provide gifts for. We then provide information on the ages, genders, etc. of the individuals so that the sponsor can purchase new gifts for them.
In order to sponsor a family, please click here: YSS 2015 Holiday Giving Sponsor Sign-up Form, and submit the form by November 8. You will receive information on the individuals you are matched with by November 14. We request that all gifts be returned to YSS,
Family Life Center, 125 South Third Street in Ames, December 7-11 between 8:30 and 5:30. Gifts may be wrapped or unwrapped.
Giving Tree
Individuals can pick up gift-tags at various local businesses that indicate a specific request from a YSS client, participant or program. The sponsor purchases the specific item on that tag and returns it either to the business or to YSS Family Life Center, 125 South 3rd St. by December 14. Businesses hosting giving trees this year are: Ames Racquet and Fitness Center (all three locations), North Grand Mall, U.S. Bank (Main St., Lincoln Way and N. Grand branches), Hampton Inn, Starbucks (both Ames Locations), DMACC (Boone Campus) and St. John’s Episcopal Church. We ask that you do not wrap giving tree items.
If you have any questions about our holiday programs, please contact Julie Fontanini at jfontanini@yss.ames.ia.us or 515-233-2250 ext. 4552.
