Holiday gift drive aims to help teens in need 

Teenagers in the Sandwich Teen Action Group will be getting a few extra Christmas gifts this year.  

This holiday season a new gift drive is looking to fill the gap in initiatives geared to teenagers ages 13 to 18. The VRSS Holiday Teen Drive, set up by VR Success Services, is accepting unused donations to help teenagers who often go without gifts on Christmas morning. 

 “I am a single mom of seven. When I needed support, I went to the drives,” said Victoria Rubio, CEO of VR Success Services. However, she felt there was always a demographic missing.  

“At all the drives the max age was 12, I thought it was really unfair,” said Rubio. As someone who has dealt with the issue of not being able to provide for her teenagers firsthand, she aims to lift the burden of families who are in that position now.  

“There’s a need for it. Teenagers deserve gifts too,” said Rubio.  All donations provided will benefit the Sandwich Teen Action Group, an organization that provides after school programs for at-risk teens ages 13 to 19. They are accepting donations until Dec. 16. They also have a wish list on the VR Success Services website outlining types of gifts they feel teens would enjoy. 

 The wish list includes gift cards for places like Walmart, Cineplex and Starbucks, makeup kits, clothing and many more that cover all types of interests. Rubio is hoping for large community and corporate representation so she can make this drive an annual event.  

“Teenagers get overlooked a lot, not just on Christmas. This will help teenagers feel like they matter,” said Rubio. She is not the only one who feels this way. 

 “A gift drive like this is a great idea because teens are usually left out,” said Eva Marcz, a Windsor resident. “Most families donate for younger children and it’s always a good feeling for teens if they feel included.”  

If you want to help those in your community, more information about ways to help can be found on the VR Success Services website at vrsuccesspath.com.