Share your warmth

Prepare yourself. This writer is about to go “Tiny Tim” on you. It’s the time of year when food-drive bins pop up around town, and people’s thoughts turn to those who are less fortunate. It’s nice to donate those cans of kidney beans you never eat anyway, but why not go deeper this year?

Wind Youth Day is a good place to start. The staff at the Wind Youth Center provides a daily drop-in center, a nighttime shelter and two roving outreach vans to care for Sacramento’s homeless teenagers. These kids, many of whom are escaping an abusive home environment, are given a hot meal, a shower, shelter, counseling and a place to play and study.

With the onset of colder weather, it’s increasingly important that the community bands together to help. This Friday’s Wind Youth Day makes it easy. From 6 a.m. until 8 p.m., volunteers will collect donations and disseminate information about the center at the Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights.

Not everyone has extra cash, but most of us have more stuff than we know what to do with. Sometimes, an item you barely use can mean the world to someone else. The Wind Youth Center’s wish list extends beyond warm coats and sweatshirts to items like bus and light-rail passes, computer software, fast-food gift certificates, snack items, toiletries, cleaning supplies, bikes, bike helmets and locks, videos and DVDs (rated PG-13 or below), toilet paper, art supplies and video games. If you have any of these to spare, bring them to Sunrise Mall on Friday or call (916) 480-0668 to arrange for a donation pickup. If you are a teen in need of help, call (800) 443-TEEN anytime. Let’s take care of each other this season, starting now.