Shanieka McAllister, Sanctuary Youth Care Specialist
Peter Lee, Sanctuary Youth Care Specialist

The holiday season came and went, and our Sanctuary youth were thankful for every moment of the holiday season. All last month, our youth had an opportunity to participate in community activities, spend one-on-one time with an on-site volunteer mentor, and were thankful for the holiday donations they received.

Last month, Sanctuary Youth Shelter partnered with the City of Fresno, Parks and Recreation, to bring holiday cheer to other youth in the local community at the 16 th Annual Children’s Fall Festival held at Holmes Neighborhood Park. Our staff and youth volunteered to create three unique art displays made of tissue paper, yarn, Popsicle sticks, and foam. Staff and youth were proud to display their artwork. Our own Youth Care Specialist Peter Lee participated in a break dancing showcase to promote the benefits of art and dance as a way to prevent youth from joining gangs and doing drugs.

Later in December, youth received tickets to attend “A Shep’s Christmas”at Warnors Theater. “A Shep’s Christmas” tells a heartbreaking story about a puppy abandoned by his owner’s wife after her husband is deployed for service in the military. Upon his return three years later, his wish was to be reunited with his dog and they are reconnected when they find the dog at an animal shelter. Our youth truly connected with the play as some have experienced a form of loss in their lives.

The holidays continued for our youth at the “Hope for the Holidays” event sponsored by HandsOn Central California. Our youth enjoyed a delicious dinner, desserts and hot cocoa; youth also played games and even took pictures with Santa. Break the Barriers and other faith based organizations provided entertainment for the event. The event was even more special as some recognizable Disney characters like Belle from Beauty and the Beast, Ariel from The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, and superhero Captain America were in attendance to take photos with the youth. At the end of the event, every child in attendance received a toy to unwrap on Christmas morning.

The holidays were even more special thanks to Foster Grandparent Grandma Margaret who spent her holiday season with the youth at the Shelter providing them with mentorship, advice, and guidance. Grandma Margaret has been an important individual in the lives of our youth. She stresses the importance of staying in school, abstaining from drugs, alcohol, and the dangers of life on the streets. Our youth have shared their admiration towards Grandma Margaret and are very grateful to have someone like her to share the holidays with while they are away from their family. Over the nine years that Grandma Margret has volunteered at the Shelter, she has seen many kids come and go, but never forgets the names and faces of the youth to whom she has dedicated her time.