The days leading up to Thanksgiving are always busy at StandUp for Kids. But this year, they felt especially meaningful.
With the help of our incredible volunteers and donors, we came together for our Pre-Thanksgiving Packaging & Tuesday Pickup/Delivery Day, and what unfolded was a powerful reminder of what community looks like in action. Boxes were filled, hands were busy, and hearts were fully invested in one shared mission: showing up for homeless youth.
By the end of the day, more than 80 Thanksgiving meal boxes were packed and delivered. That meant over 80 youth and their families were able to sit down to a holiday meal, many for the first time in a long time. We also surpassed the number of families we reached in the past two years, a milestone made possible entirely by the generosity of our donors and volunteers.
Their support didn’t just make this event successful. It made it meaningful. A meal fills an empty stomach. A home fills something deeper: safety, stability, and hope.
One Story Behind the Numbers
Statistics help us understand the scope of youth homelessness. But it’s individual stories that remind us why this work matters.
When Jasmine connected with StandUp for Kids, she was facing housing instability while caring for her young child and preparing to welcome a new baby. Each day required strength, resilience, and constant decision making, all without the security of knowing where her family would sleep.
During a holiday weekend, Jasmine reached out through our 800 support line. Within hours, our team stepped in to help, securing emergency shelter for her and her child. That initial connection opened the door to continued support, including placement in a family shelter where she has been building stability over the past several months.
Today, Jasmine is preparing to celebrate her baby’s first Christmas in a safe and warm environment, a milestone that once felt out of reach. It’s a moment rooted in hope, and a powerful example of what happens when young families are met with compassion instead of barriers.
Stories like Jasmine’s are possible because members of our community choose to show up, believe in young parents, and invest in their futures.
The Courage We See Every Day
At StandUp for Kids, we witness boldness every single day.
We see it in youth who face nights on the streets, in cars, or in unsafe places and still find the strength to keep going. We see it in young people who reach out for help, even when doing so feels overwhelming. Their courage humbles us, and it reminds us why this work matters so deeply.
As the holidays approach, that courage is met by the generosity of our community. Your support creates immediate impact: $50 provides groceries and hygiene items for a youth in crisis, $150 provides one night of emergency shelter, and $500 provides deposit support for safe housing.
Due to generous donors and selfless volunteers, bold youth in our community have already received meals, mentoring, and shelter this December. But we are only halfway to our year end goal, and as winter sets in, it becomes the most dangerous time of year for youth without safe shelter.
That means there are still young people waiting. Waiting for food. Waiting for a safe place to sleep. Waiting for someone to believe in them.
A Holiday Moment That Meant Everything
Over the weekend, we hosted our annual Holiday Youth Party, and it was a joyful and meaningful day for the youth we serve. The space was filled with laughter, good food, sweet treats, and a special visit from Santa that made the celebration feel extra festive.
Lunch was generously donated by Swenson Entertainment Tacos and made fresh to order. Youth played trivia, took photos with Santa, and spent the afternoon simply being kids.
One moment stood out deeply: after gifts were handed out, many youth chose not to open them. Instead, they wanted to save them for Christmas morning. For many, those gifts may be the only gifts they receive this season.
This year, because our donors filled wish lists and wrapped gifts, we were able to support over 60 youth and families. Each young person went home with a gift, a stocking, and the opportunity to choose additional items they needed most.
This celebration was made possible entirely by the generosity of our supporters.
We Need Your Help This December
We’ve raised $10,000 of our $50,000 year-end goal, but with just 8 days left, the work is far from finished. Right now, 25 young people in our community are still waiting for emergency shelter beds this month.
Every day we wait, youth are sleeping in cars, missing meals, and facing the holidays without stability or support, as winter becomes the most dangerous time to be without safe shelter.
Here’s how you can help today:
Give boldly: Donate at https://www.standupforkids.org/Orangecounty/donate/
Show up: Sign up to volunteer at https://www.standupforkids.org/hth/volunteer/
Spread the word: Share this post with your community
Together, we can ensure no young person is left behind this holiday season.
Standing Up, Together
This season reminds us that change happens when people show up, when volunteers give their time, when donors give boldly, and when communities choose compassion.
To everyone who packed boxes, filled wish lists, wrapped gifts, made a donation, or shared our mission: thank you. You are helping ensure that no young person has to face homelessness alone.
Together, we are building more than meals.
We are building futures.