During the holidays, the wishes of young people experiencing homelessness are no different than ours: a chance to gather with friends and loved ones, share a meal, and enjoy the season. With your help, we can make the holidays feel special for youth. It can start with something as simple as a holiday gift—selected just for them. Learn more about holiday giving below!

Fufill A Wish
Donate a Gift Card
Volunteer
Provide a Meal
Host a Holiday Fundraiser
Make a Year-End Gift
Other Ways to Give

Thank you for caring about youth who are experiencing homelessness during this holiday season. We wish you and your loved ones warmth and good health as we reflect on 2022.

Fulfill a Wish

YouthCare collects specific wishes directly from young people and work with community members, like yourself, to fulfill these special wishes. This tradition lets youth know the community cares about THEM, personally, while they get their special and useful gift(s). There are three ways to help youth receive gifts or needed items for the holidays:

  1. Purchase youth wishes safely online through YouthCare’s Holiday Wish List—gifts are shipped directly to YouthCare!
  2. Host a drive at your workplace, organization, church, or other group! Want a list of youth names and wishes? Email volunteer@youthcare.org with how many wishes you’d like to fulfill!
  3. Donate gift cards!
Online Holiday Wish List
Host a Drive
Donate a Gift Card

Bonus! Purchasing through the wishlist? Sign up shop at Amazon Smile and 0.5% of your eligible purchases will be donated to the charitable organization of your choice. Visit smile.amazon.com to get started! If you have questions, view their FAQ.

Donate a Gift Card

Gift cards are a popular and important gift for youth – they want autonomy and the flexibility to choose. Gift cards also help youth find those hard-to-find sizes, specific work attire, or needed items for their new apartment!

Purchased gift cards can be delivered or mailed to YouthCare’s main office (Attn: Development, 2500 NE 54th Street, Seattle, WA 98105), or purchase a gift card off the Holiday Wish List.

Popular gift cards include: Visa, Mastercard, Amazon, Fred Meyer, Safeway, Target, Bartell’s, Walgreens, CVS, Lane Bryant, Torrid, Old Navy, Tracfone, Verizon, Best Buy, Spotify, Ross, TJ Maxx, Macy’s, IKEA, Goodwill, Uber, Lyft, McDonald’s, Subway, Starbucks, and more!

Additional thoughtful gift card ideas:

Please send electronic gift cards to donations@youthcare.org or see below for more info about shipping or dropping off your gifts.

Charity Gift Cards

Charity gift cards work like any other gift card, but instead of purchasing goods, the recipient can “spend” funds on the card in support of a charity, including YouthCare! When you buy via this link, YouthCare receives a $2 donation, and your recipient will see a special message about YouthCare.

HOW TO DROP OFF GIFTS:

Because all young people deserve to open up a new present just for them, we ask that all gifts be new and unopened. We kindly request all gifts are delivered on or before Monday, December 19.

Delivering Gifts: Please deliver all gifts to YouthCare’s Main Office, 2500 NE 54th St., Seattle, WA 98105 between 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday.

Shipping Gifts: When purchasing things online or in person, you can ship items directly to YouthCare:
Attn: Holiday Drive, YouthCare, 2500 NE 54th St., Seattle, WA 98105

Volunteer

Thank you for your interest in volunteering this holiday season! If you’re looking for a simple yet vital way to help young people – consider cooking, delivering, and/or ordering delivery (from a local restaurant) to a YouthCare program.

Sign up to deliver a meal
Cook & Serve In-Person

Make Your Year-end Gift 

Make a cash donation to help provide joy and stability for young people during the holidays.

Shop Consciously

Buy gifts for your loved ones from businesses who are selling product that benefits YouthCare: Noir Luxe Candle Co., Fingerprint & Co., Gourmondo, Nordstrom’s Treasure & Bond, and Make Good for Good. Learn more about those partners here!

During a time of year when we’re all thinking about our loved ones near and far, please consider maximizing your impact on the community with your purchasing power. During your own holiday shopping this year, please remember to buy from black-owned businesses!

Thank you for helping us create a joyful holiday for young people! If you’d like to help us with current and emerging needs, please visit our current needs page here.