Some say the most important part of the holidays is sharing kindness.
And when a member of the Youth Opening Doors through Advocacy club saw a news article about Watson Children’s Shelter needing gift donations for residents to have a happy holiday, she knew what she had to do.
The member asked fellow YODA’lers at their next meeting if they would help her get gifts for the shelter. And after a vote, the group decided to donate half the club’s funds toward getting toys and clothes for the children at the shelter.
The mission was a go.
Members divided into two teams – one to buy presents and the other to deliver them. The first team went to Target and picked out various toys and clothes from the children’s wish lists. One YODA member even chipped in her own money to buy additional gifts and some treats so the Watson’s children could have their own Christmas party!
The next morning, the second team bundled up and traveled to the shelter to drop off the presents. When they dropped the gifts off, they got a surprise treat of their own! The children at the shelter had made mugs filled with ingredients for hot chocolate and candy canes for people who were donating gifts. The YODA’lers joyfully accepted the Christmas mugs for all their hard work.
After the donation, YODA members went home, but not before adding something to the legacy of youth advocacy in Missoula—holiday spirit.
