Every holiday season the Latin American Youth Center provides gifts to over 2,000 low-income children and youth who hail from the most densely populated and impoverished neighborhoods in the nation's capital and surrounding metropolitan region. Children receive their gifts at our annual holiday party where they also have their picture taken with Santa and partake in a hot meal.
The poverty rate in LAYC's service area is 26% and the percentage of children living in poverty is 35%. 40% of households are headed by single women with children. The true extent of Latino poverty may be higher, as many Latino families live in multiple family households, may not report their income, and due to their immigration status, are not eligible for financial or housing assistance. This project will bring holiday cheer to over 2,000 of the children in our service area.
Through this project we can provide holiday gifts to deserving low-income children and youth from the District and metropolitan area. The gifts include books, toys, movie gift certificates and giftcards.
We will provide over 2,000 children and youth with holiday gifts, allowing them to participate in the holiday spirit.
