COMMUNITY SERVICE: Teens helping each other

Sierra Vista students lend a hand

National Honor Society members at Sierra Vista High School didn't have to look much past their own age to find people in need of help.

In March, the academic and service-based student group started a clothing and toiletries drive for Street Teens, a drop-in center for teens near Tropicana and Eastern avenues.

Mostly adult clothes, if any, are donated to the homeless youth, but items are outdated and do little to satisfy angst about appearance. Homeless teens want to look like everyone else, said Kellie Guild, fund development vice president for the Junior League, the school's partner on the project.

The Junior League's Community Closet donates clothing to the Shade Tree Shelter and other organizations. Some clothing from the school's drive also went to the Shade Tree and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

"They carry everything they own in a backpack," said Lisa Preston, director of Street Teens. "When they hang around (the University of Nevada, Las Vegas) campus, nobody can pick them out and say, 'That kid's homeless.' They all look the same."

"The things they were getting were things your grandmother would wear," said Guild, also a teacher at the school. "They're picky like these kids are. They want to dress like these kids do. They want to be discreet, so they don't stand out."

The students' goal was to collect 2,700 items, one for every student in the school, to donate to Street Teens. In the end, the 11-day total reached 8,350 items. Carol Adamson's class donated 1,263 items alone.

"They cleaned out their closets," said Guild, whose class brought in 1,020 items. "The kids here were amazing with the stuff they donated."

Street Teens has received clothing and toiletry donations from small volunteer groups before, but nothing on the level of the Sierra Vista donation, Preston said. When the organization receives items the teens can't use, they donate them to other charities in need.

"There was very little (from Sierra Vista) we won't be able to use. If there are things our kids won't wear, we'll pass it onto the Junior League or the Salvation Army or the rescue mission to help homeless adults."

The drive came at just the right time when the weather changed from cold and rainy to warm and sunny. Jeans and T-shirts were the hottest tickets.

"Two weeks to a month ago the kids were wearing sweatshirts," Preston said. "This really, really helps out. This should keep up with plenty of clothes for a while. The kids are so excited."

Preston has a few clothing racks that are now full. Everything else will stay in boxes, sorted by gender and style, until those racks are empty.

"We didn't expect this much participation," said Lee Gordon, school National Honor Society advisor. "Maybe it's because it's teens helping teens. Everybody has a food drive, a book drive."

Shampoo, conditioner and other toiletry items were on the list of needs along with accessories such as belts, purses and bags. Small bottles of essentials were requested, to fit into backpacks. Larger items will be kept at the center for teens to use while they are there to eat, nap and shower. Street Teens is open from 4 to 8 p.m. daily.

The drive was supposed to conclude on March 10, but bags and boxes of donations kept arriving in the school library, the honor society's hub for the project.

"Mostly people have been generous," said Kim Hammer, a senior. "I just hope the stuff gets used. I hope it won't be in vain, and people will actually benefit from our drive."

Hammer and many of her friends had never heard of Street Teens. Although the center is quite a distance from the southwest-area high school, the thought of homeless youth hit close to home.

"I am so dependent on my parents," Hammer said. "It was like an awakening. I'm glad to be helping out."

"It shows the kids that there are people out there in the community who are touching their lives they've never met," Preston said.

Those interested in Street Teens can call 215-4171. Volunteer information can be found at the organization's Web site, www.streetteens.org.


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