Local Charities Join Forces To Help Underserved Teens This Holiday Season

December 18, 2020 – Sarasota

Two local nonprofit organizations have joined forces this holiday season to produce a gift drive benefitting underserved pre-teen and teens in the Greater Tampa Bay region. Unlike most holiday season drives, this initiative’s age range is specifically 12-19, a demographic that often gets lost in the shuffle. The goal of the event? To spread love to families that have particularly struggled during a tumultuous year. 2020’s global pandemic shifted these school-age children into virtual learning environments, limited their opportunities for activity and social engagement, and prevented the celebration of some of life’s significant milestones. Through this initiative, the organization aims to help local mothers provide a memorable Christmas that may not otherwise be possible.

Clearwater-based charity, EmpowHERment, was founded to aid at-risk women and families via advocacy, support groups, and empowerment workshop. The group recently opened a community center, which will serve as the venue for the December 12 event. Kisses for a Cause, the charitable arm of local artist Lipstick Lex, is co-presenting the initiative and has been collecting donations out of her Sarasota-based gallery. The missions of the two organizations, EmpowHERment and Kisses for a Cause, aligned when EmpowHERment founder, Ambee Stephens, connected with Alexis Fraser (aka Lipstick Lex) about acquiring a custom piece of artwork for an upcoming fundraiser. Lex quickly jumped on board, and the two began brainstorming ways to enhance the holidays for families in the area.

Stephens explained to Fraser that her organization launched after suffering the tragic loss of her father. “While my siblings and I experienced a number of challenges as kids, the one thing that we always had was a great Christmas.” 

Fraser added, “Kids in this age bracket are already struggling so much to navigate life as it is. I remember how sad it was when all of a sudden, the magic of Christmas felt a bit lost as I began to get older.”

The two organizers aim to instill a feeling of love, support, and appreciation for tweens and teens through this project.

The “You Are Loved” Gift Drive occurs on December 12, 2020, from 11:30A – 2P at the EmpowHERment Community Center, located at 13555 Automobile Boulevard, Suite 300, Clearwater, Florida 33762. A wish list of items is available at www.EmpowHERment.org/holiday. Those that cannot make it to the event may make monetary donations online at www.kissesforcauses.org/you-are-loved.