YouthSquared – Youth Helping Youth hostied the second annual Youth for Change: Community Giving Fair. This exciting event was held on Saturday, November 20^th, 2010 from 10am to 3pm at the United Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall, 175 Fifth Avenue, Saratoga Springs. The next annual “Community Giving Fair” will be held on Saturday, November 19, 2011.
For our third annual event we are going to be having a “Youth Community Giving Challenge” where we will be receiving proposals for local community service projects that will be judged and offered financial grants. We will be highlighting youth clubs and youth philanthropic efforts in our community.
In an effort to teach children about the importance and value of local and global community giving, YouthSquared will provide a fun and engaging forum that empowers children to make a difference by encouraging them to think about social change, to participate in social action projects and to donate to the agency or fund of their choice. Parents can encourage children to identify a cherished cause and to give a donation.

Agencies that are participating are Saratoga County Children’s Committee, Harriet M. West Child Advocacy Center, Ballston Area Community Center, Children and Nature, Saratoga, Backstretch Employee Service Team, Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council, Franklin Community Center, Inc. Domestic Violence, Hospice Africa, Help the World, Seeds for Peace, Local Living Guide, Mango Tree Imports, and Youth²– Youth Helping Youth. Agency volunteers will be on hand to explain to people how to make their donations. All donations are tax-deductible. Participating human service agencies will directly benefit from increased public awareness and financial and gift/in-kind donations.
A festive mood will be created with numerous activities, including live music, a Community Service Rewards Life Size Board Game, prizes, Stone Soup lunch in bowls made by the Skidmore College Ceramics Department, a Thanksgiving bake sale, raffle baskets, Social Action projects- Smart Kits and Good Health Kits to be made by youth, Roll for Change where small kids can use small change for big change, face painting, an art project where youth can envision a desired world, a Volunteer Match Table and an alternative giving person, Pockets, pick his pocket and get a community service idea and a treat!
Participants can enjoy the fair without spending money. You and your child can help to make a Smart Kit or a Good Health Kit for other children in need. You can play the Community Service Rewards Board Game. You can learn about the different agencies and what they do to help our community. You can draw a picture for the Quilt of Visions about what you want the world to be like. You can find out about ways that you can volunteer. You can listen to live musical performances.
Agencies that are participating in the Community Giving Fair each have wish lists of items that would be helpful to the people in the community that they serve.
People attending can bring wish list items and give them to the participating agencies- nickels for seed purchases; $10 gift cards from bookstores, drug stores, gas cards, grocery stores, clothing stores; winter hats and gloves for teens; underwear, pajamas, socks, t-shirts; hygiene products for teens; and non-perishable food items. An updated wish list can be found on the website, www.youthsquared.org Of course, attendees can make donations to various causes and re-giftthem at holiday time.
In addition to the alternative gifts available, shoppers can purchase hand-crafted items from all over the world, while at the same time through fair trade help impoverished craftspeople provide food, clothing and shelter for their families. Mango Tree Imports will display a variety of fair trade items- handcrafted jewelry, toys, musical instruments, carvings and more.
Youth²– Youth Helping Youth is a Field of Interest Fund formed under the guidance of the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region. Youth² engages young people to think about issues that they care about and to create volunteer, social awareness and fundraising projects for youth and by youth both locally and globally. Youth² is committed to giving both financial and thoughtful support to help interested young people turn their ideas into realities. We need youth to help at the Community giving Fair and community service hours can be obtained. Please visit our website www.youthsquared.org or call .
Please consider joining us to celebrate community giving. Help teach children that they can truly make a difference.

Wish Lists

Domestic Violence Services Gift Cards $5-50 (Target, Hannaford, Price Chopper, CVS, Wal-Mart) for meds/diapers Women and children’s new underwear Socks Pajamas/Lightweight t-shirts/sweat pants Alarm Clocks/Radios Saratoga County Children’s Committee Pajamas Toothpaste/toothbrush Shampoo Cash donations Children’s socks Children’s Books Barrettes Franklin Community Center Art and drawing sets General Gift Cards: Walmart, Target, Price Chopper Bath and Body Hygiene products CDs: rap, hip hop DVDs: new releases Nonperishable food for our emergency food pantry The Prevention Council Toiletries School supplies: notebooks, crayons, pencils Craft kits Seeds for Peace Nickels for seeds Help The World- Take the H20 Challenge. For 2 weeks drink only water, no soda, juice, etc. Save the money you would normally have spent on soda, juice, etc. Donate this money to drill wells in Africa so children and their families will have safe drinking water.

Children and Nature Saratoga Nature Journals Compasses Children and Nature Books Ballston Area Community Center Gloves and winter hats for teens Borders gift cards for teens Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council Gift cards Gloves and hats Art Supplies Backstretch Employee Service Team Blankets: (new/used) Toiletries: Shampoo, Deodorant, Toothpaste/toothbrush Duffel bags (new/used) Hospice Africa Children’s garden tools Harriet M. West Child Advocacy Center Nutritional snacks: granola bars, crackers, juice boxes, etc. Gas gift cards

Join us and support the organizations that take care of our community!