The Keystone Club at the Ballard Boys and Girls Club has been collecting donations for homeless teenagers.
The club joined 13 other Seattle Keystone groups in the effort and will give the clothing, sleeping bags, shoes and jeans to New Horizon, a group that provides services to teens living on the street. Members are also looking for snack items like granola bars, AA batteries, make up and other items that can be useful for homeless teens.
"It's amazing, the number of homeless teens. Seattle is attractive for homeless people and teens. There are a lot of homeless services, A big city has more resources," said the Ballard Boys and Girls Club's assistant child care program and teen director Alison C. Soike.
There are 11 youth in the Ballard Keystone Club, most are from Ballard High School. With 13 Keystone Clubs around the city, members emphasize service, character and leadership, unity, social responsibility and education.
"We try to focus on activities that fall into all those areas," said Soike.
On Jan. 2, Keystone Club members from around the city brought donations to New Horizon for a "Day of Caring."
Homeless youth go the New Horizon for meals, self-care, doing laundry, taking showers or meeting with its staff. The agency is not a shelter, so teens leave at the end of the night.
Soike said homeless teens want the same life as other teens and it's hard for them to achieve that. On the other hand, Keystone members see kids their own age who don't have anything and live on the street.
Christina Steinauer is a senior at Ballard High. She said she runs into young people she grew up with and tries to help them.
"It makes you think how lucky we are to have such good opportunities for ourselves," said Ballard junior Krista Nelson.
Soike has been the Keystone Club director for eight months. "My goal is to have passion for the homeless and the less fortunate. That's a real person, they are people like you and me and have value," she said.
Being in the Keystone Club has taught valuable lessons. "I learn to do good things in the community. I volunteer a lot. I learned how to organize and take charge," said Steinauer.
Parker Davis is a sophomore at Ballard High and has been in the Ballard Boys and Girls Club since the age of seven.
"I like what we do for the community. I will use my leadership skills the rest of my life. It's a good thing to have," said Davis.
The club's Torch Club, with mostly Whitman and Hamilton middle school students is helping the homeless in another way. They have set up a Giving Tree at the Union Gospel Mission.