‘Tis the season to inspire, lead, and serve your community! Youth Action is proud to announce our 9^th annual toy drive, which will take place on December 12, 2014. The annual toy drive is an event designed to provide gifts and holiday cheer to families in need. In the past, Youth Action has been able to donate over 10,000 toys to children in the Philadelphia community, and this year, our toy drive will be bigger and better.

Jelani Hasan, a super star member of Youth Action and a junior at the Academy of Palumbo High School, is coordinating the event. Below you can see an interview we had with Jelani to talk about his involvement with Youth Action and his expectations for this year’s toy drive.

Why did you initially join Youth Action?

I actually joined Junior Youth Action in 2010 after receiving a ticket from my mom’s friend to attend the 4^th Annual Gala. I really liked all the things I heard about serving the community and just wanted to be part of it. In 2012, I graduated from JYA and officially became a member of Youth Action.

What does Youth Action mean to you?

Youth Action means giving of my time to serve the community as well as learning leadership skills, meeting like minded youth and getting exposed to great opportunities. Within the four years, I have had the opportunity to serve on the planning committee for Mount Airy COGIC Annual Youth Summit, attend “Wave Week”, and represent YA on the Finley Youth Advisory Council. Currently I am utilizing the leadership skills I have learned by facilitating on Youth Action’s ILP program.

What skills have you developed through being involved with YA?

Through my work with Youth Action, I have developed skills of networking, teamwork, and have learned how to lead my peers. At the age of twelve when I first started out in Junior Youth Action I was a bright young child and a deep thinker. With Youth Action’s guidance, I was finally given a chance to share my opinion on various topics without being told “You are too young to understand.”

What do you think makes Youth Action different from other community service organizations?

Youth Action is different from other community service organizations because it is not just a service group, it is a family. It is also a successful nonprofit organization ran by High School and College students trained with the tools to serve the community and teach other youth to become dynamic leaders.

What are you most looking forward to about the toy drive?

I am looking forward to this year’s Toy Drive having a big turnout with lots of toys and families coming out to celebrate the joyous gift of giving. I’m mostly looking forward to seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces because bringing joy to others makes me happy.

This year’s event will take place on Friday, December 12, 2014 from 6PM to 8PM at The Academy at Palumbo High School, located at 1100 Catherine St., Philadelphia, PA 19147. Please RSVP to Jelani Hasan at jhasan@youthactionteam.org to confirm your attendance at our Toy Drive event on December 12th.

It will be an event celebrating the families of The Friends Rehabilitation Center and Youth Action Toy Drive Sponsors. The event will feature toy distribution, entertainment, food and a Holiday Basket Giveaway. We are accepting toys and books for children between the ages of infant to 17 years of age.

The locations listed below are currently accepting toy drive donations up until the Saturday, December 6, 2014.

Drop Box Locations

Peirce College, 1420 Pine St, Philadelphia, PA 19102

Friends Select School, 17th & Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia PA 19103

Salem Baptist Church of Jenkintown, 610 Summit Ave., Jenkintown, PA 19046

If you are interested in making a contribution, serving as a drop site, or need any further information, please contact Youth Action’s Toy Drive Coordinator, Jelani Hasan at (215) 915-5001 or jhasan@youthactionteam.org.

Youth Action would like to thank The Academy at Palumbo High School for providing the venue for this joyful event!