Founding sisters of Sisters Empowering Women, Inc.: Left, Amber Conage, Karin Davis-Thompson and Toni Boyd.
TAMPA — Girls in need can find a little Christmas magic this season with some help from a local non-profit. Sisters Empowering Women, Inc. (SEW), a Tampa-based non-profit committed to supporting at-risk teenage girls in their journey to adulthood, will provide gifts to girls ages 13-17 whose families can’t afford gifts for Christmas.
“We want them to believe in the magic of Christmas the way younger children do,” said Amber Conage, SEW co-founder and board vice chair. “This is our second year with the Believe Project, and we are excited to see it grow.”
Students must be recommended for the project by a school counselor, social worker or a social services agency. They will fill out the form and check the gifts their candidate might like to receive.
“Last year, we gave away two laptops, two tablets, gift cards, and a beauty box,” said Toni Boyd, SEW co-founder and board member. “So often people think about toy drives for younger children, but what about a 14-year-old, that teenager who wants to be remembered too?”
The student must be considered at risk to qualify, and her family can’t afford to purchase Christmas gifts. She must live in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, or Polk Counties and be between 13 and 17 years old.
Applications are being accepted from now until Dec. 1, and the organization will give out gifts for as long as funding is available. Recipients will be contacted during the first week of December, and a Christmas party is planned to give out the gifts in a fun and festive atmosphere.
“We want to celebrate them,” Conage said. “It’s the least we can do.”
For any school or social service agency interested in nominating a girl for a gift, visit SEW’s www.sistersempoweringwomen.org or email the organization at sistersempoweringwomen@gmail.com
