Triunfo YMCA Provides Holiday Gifts For 10 Needy Families

Dec. 29, 2010 - PRLog -- WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIF.--Teen members of the Triunfo YMCA Youth & Government Program from Agoura, Oak Park, Westlake and Oaks Christian High Schools provided gifts to 10 needy families during the holidays.

   Youth & Government brings teenagers together from around the state to learn about the inner workings of government. The Triunfo YMCA delegation is 110 members strong. "The delegation had been looking for a community outreach project during the holidays," says Jenna Grossman, Triunfo YMCA program director. "We contacted St. John's Regional Medical Center's 'Adopt-A-Family' program. The program is wonderful. The hospital provides the families with food baskets. For us, we divided the teens into 10 groups. Each group received an information sheet on a family with a list of needed items such as shoes, jackets and jeans. The gifts were collected and supplied by the teens and their families."

   "My group adopted a family with three small children under the age of four with a single mom," says Jane Desmond, a junior at Oak Park High School and a member of the Triunfo YMCA Youth & Government delegation. "I was lucky enough to personally deliver the presents to the family. I now know what people mean when they refer to 'the holiday spirit.' It means giving with no expectation of anything in return, and knowing what you do will make someone else's life a little bit better."

   "All the families showed great appreciation for the gifts and food they received," says Grossman. "There were lots of smiles, even some tears."

   The Triunfo YMCA Youth & Government program accepts teens from Westlake Village, Agoura Hills and Oak Park. The delegation meets Thursdays from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Sumac Elementary School (6050 Calmfield Ave, Agoura Hills). For more information on the Triunfo YMCA Youth & Government program, contact Jenna Grossman at 818-707-9622 or e-mail her at jgrossman@triunfoymca.org.

   Other local YMCAs, including the Conejo Valley YMCA (805-523-7613), Miller Family YMCA (805-480-0309) and Simi Valley Family YMCA (805-583-5338), offer Youth & Government programs for teens in their area. Call for more information.

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With branches in Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westlake Village and Simi Valley, the Southeast Ventura County YMCA serves the communities of Newbury Park, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Santa Rosa Valley, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills and Oak Park.