By Robert Hansen | OBSERVER Staff Writer
Voice of the Youth has two office spaces nearly full of toys and gifts for youth of all ages this Christmas. Even as more poured in from a local community college, there still weren’t enough.
Voice of the Youth is ramping up for its fifth annual “Giving Back to Our Beloved Community” gift giveaway held at the nonprofit’s impact center in South Sacramento at 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 17.
“Even with all that you see here,” Voice of the Youth founder Berry Accius said. “This is not enough.”
One room was filled with board games, action figures, arts and crafts, skate boards, clothing, an electric drum set and even some drones.
On Tuesday, Sierra College football Coach Ben Noonan and an assistant coach were dropping off gifts that came from the players.
“Each player, who could, brought a gift,” Noonan said. “It’s probably close to 250 gifts.”
Noonan said he was connected to Accius by a former player who was mentored by Voice of the Youth.
“I was trying to research a good toy drive and we partnered up with Berry last year,” Noonan said. “He’s amazing.”
Players will help give the gifts to parents Dec. 17.
City Councilperson Caity Maple, who has joined with Accius and Voice of the Youth for their annual gift giveaway several times, said she has personally seen the nonprofit’s incredible impact in South Sacramento.
“Especially in my district, we have a huge number of low-income and working families struggling to just put food on the table,” Maple said in an email. “No children should go without gifts this holiday season – that’s why I was honored to support this event and the important work that [Voice of the Youth] is doing.”
The goal is to give away $25,000 worth of gifts to 1,500 families in need. In its first year, Voice of the Youth provided for a few hundred children.
Accius said he began the gift giveaway because he felt he had to be part of the solution to the social issues of poverty, crime and violence.
“You can’t call out all of the injustices or [wait] for someone else to fix it. You have to figure out how to stand and figure out how you can be a part of the solution, create the change, motivate and inspire others to do those things that are necessary,” Accius said.
Most fundraising comes from Voice of the Youth itself, but Accius said community partnerships with places such as Arden Fair, Sierra College, the Meadowview Resource Center and the retail store Phenom play a role.
“You’ve had those individuals that have stepped in in previous years,” Accius said. “But it gets harder and harder because the need becomes greater and greater.”
Accius said the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still being felt throughout the community.
“This year is the worst that I’ve seen and I thought that the worst would happen during COVID,” Accius said.
He said the gift drive helps children in ways beyond providing a memorable Christmas.
“It leaves their self-esteem intact and it also helps support a wave of young people feeling like they have to go get it themselves,” Accius said.
Registered parents can select gifts for their children and will be given a roll of wrapping paper too.
While the gift giveaway is about the youth, it also lets parents take ownership of their children’s Christmas gifts.
“We’re bringing back humanity and dignity,” Accius said.Registration is closed, but Voice of the Youth still needs donations. To help, Venmo @VOYIMPACT, PayPal 1VOICEOFTHEYOUTH@gmail.com or Cash App at $BERRYACCIUS.