Teens Fill Thousands Of Shoeboxes Filled With Items For Other Teens Affected By Katrina

What would a teen want who lost everything to a hurricane? That question sparked a national campaign launched by Teen Ink magazine. This well-established national magazine and website is encouraging its millions of teenage readers and others to assemble shoeboxes full of relief supplies for teens affected by the disaster.

Teen Ink suggests that the shoeboxes include new or like-new items such as school supplies, t-shirts, hats, jeans, accessories, phone cards, gift cards, watches, calculators, DVDs, CDs and other items that are important to teens. The boxes will be released to major relief organizations serving teens. See http://www.teenink.com/

“This call for teenagers to help other teens has had a very positive response from young people around the country who are looking for a way to help,” said publisher John Meyer, who founded the magazine 17 years ago to give teenagers a responsible forum to express their ideas, concerns and creativity.

Meyer said that in the initial stages they have already received many boxes or pledges for thousands of boxes. “Who better than a fellow teen to know what someone who’s lost everything would want,” said Meyer. “There are needs beyond food and shelter. We hope that these extra items will help teens get back to a life as it was before the hurricane. We want them to know that people their age care and are taking action!”

For almost two decades Teen Ink magazine and TeenInk.com has published more than 30,000 pieces on every aspect of teen life, all written by teenagers. “This effort is a unique way for teens to express themselves by doing something for others at this critical time,” said Meyer. “Giving of oneself is the ultimate form of expression, and we’re facilitating that.”

Sandy Star, a high-school teacher in San Antonio, Texas, agrees. “This shoebox program provides a unique opportunity for teenagers to individually think about what they would want if they lost everything, and then they can provide some of those items to others in need.”

Teen Ink magazine reaches more than 4 million teenagers in thousands of junior and senior high schools nationwide. In addition, its website TeenInk.com has more than 17,000 pages of teen writing, art, photography, contests, resources and more.

Relief contributors (teens and adults alike) can send their shoeboxes of supplies to Teen Ink, Box 30, Newton, MA 02461. For all the details, visit http://www.teenink.com/ or call 617-964-6800. Teachers are invited to call and arrange for their entire school to participate.