November 2, 2006

‘Feel-good’ project provides holiday gifts for needy teens

Longtime volunteer Janet Fant lives to bring joy to teens’ holidays

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

Almaden resident Janet Fant is excited. She’s just received the new brochure for her pet volunteer project “Holiday Gifts for Teens.”

Holiday Gifts for Teens treasurer Janet Fant wouldn’t miss packaging presents for needy teens. Photo by Jeanne Carbone Lewis

“Julie Green did the graphics and Gary at NCG printed them up,” said an enthusiastic Fant with a slight New York accent. “We had the ideas but didn’t know how to put it together. We really appreciate them donating their time.”

A feel-good project
Fant has been with Holiday Gifts for Teens from the inception in 1997 when the first brightly wrapped gift baskets containing scarves, jewelry, cosmetics, toiletries, socks, candy, picture frames, small stuffed animals and other teenage treasures were given to 21 teens living below the poverty level. Last year the dedicated volunteers created 1,200 special baskets for teens with a value of well over $50 that were distributed by Sacred Heart Community Service [SHCS] and 160 back packs for homeless boys at the Bill Wilson Center.

Each year Holiday Gifts for Teens have exceeded their goals with the help of generous donations from individuals, service organizations and the dedication of volunteers.

This year the group has received $1,000 from the Lions Club and Decon Construction. The Kiwanis have donated $500. They are still in need of contributions to reach the goal of 1,100 gifts that they hope to make, but Fant isn’t worried because she confidently relates that “it always comes together.”

Gifts for Teens started innocently enough when Fant and other volunteers were repairing Barbie Dolls for the SHCS Christmas Toy Basket eight years ago. “We had some things left over and so we made the baskets especially for teens,” said Fant. “It was an area that was not being filled. The response was so wonderful and we went from there. And Sacred Heart and the Bill Wilson Center are very much part of the community. Everyone knows both organizations. Gifts for Teens is truly a feel-good project.”

Gifts for Teens
The American Association of University Women together with community volunteers has been dedicated since 1997 to providing assistance to Holiday Gifts for Teens in need. The brightly decorated gifts are distributed through SHCS and the Bill Wilson Center, both of which are nondenominational, licensed agencies supporting and strengthening the community by serving youth and families in Silicon Valley. And with most groups collecting toys and gifts for younger children, Holiday Gifts for Teens fills an important need.

The Holiday Gifts for Teens bags or baskets are filled with items such as toiletries, games, T-shirts handheld electronics, sports watches, movie tickets, gift cards, candy, CDs, teen books, cameras, etc. Cash donations allow the group to purchase items in quantity at wholesale prices. A contribution of $35 will fill one Gifts for Teens basket or bag. Corporations and businesses can donate surplus business promotional items: sports bags, ball caps, Frisbees, pens, etc. And the matching gift program allows the donations to go farther for purchasing items for the project.

Giving is better than receiving
“Janet Fant and the entire Gifts for Teens program represent the best of our community: hard work, innovation, and a commitment to provide underserved youth a fulfilling and exciting Christmas,” said SHCS Executive Director Poncho Guevara.

And this will be the second year that Holiday Gifts for Teens will create backpacks for the Bill Wilson Center with a goal of 200.

Holiday Gifts for Teens lady elves sort through items donated. Left: Arlene Shaughnessy, Janet Fant and Helen Burrows. Photo courtesy of Elaine Benoit

“Last year was our first year as a recipient of duffle bags from Gift for Teens,” said Bill Wilson Center Director of Community Resources Judy Whittier. “The youth we serve were just thrilled! Most of these kids don’t have good holiday memories—no one has baked special cookies for them or filled their stockings or gathered with them and the whole family around a turkey-laden table—things we take for granted. Gifts for Teens is helping to ensure these youth know that there are special people who care about them. Gifts for Teens is an all-volunteer, amazing group!”

Fant’s official title this year is treasurer but she has participated in all phases of Holiday Gifts for Teens through the years.

“Janet does an invaluable job tabulating and tracking all donations of cash and gifts and does so with vivacity and a wacky sense of humor,” said Holiday Gifts for Teens director Elaine Benoit. “Within weeks of moving to Almaden about 30 years ago, Janet has consistently volunteered her time. The woman knows everyone! She enthusiastically promotes Gifts for Teens among her many community contacts and is a founding member of the project.”

A heart of gold
Fant was born and raised in Queens [Astoria], N.Y. and fondly recalls train rides to the beach, museums and ice-skating in Central Park. She married in 1966 and the young couple moved to Poughkeepsie. A job transfer for husband John in 1974 brought the family to San Jose and they settled in Almaden. She joined a babysitting and a food co-op. She was an avid volunteer at the schools her children, Tracy, Greg and Scott attended: Los Alamitos Elementary and Pioneer High School. An extra added benefit to her hours of volunteerism was that “volunteering is how we met our friends.” The family enjoyed baseball, soccer and basketball.

Fant was one of the originators of the Unicorn Thrift Stores 13 years ago and still works there one day a week. Canasta and bunco games are looked forward to as well as trips home to New York and Lake Tahoe. And she loves to dote on her three grandchildren: Shaun, Brendan and Kaitlyn.

Almaden resident Arlene Shaughnessy met Fant playing bunco years ago, a pastime they still enjoy together.

“Janet, along with being one of my closest and dearest friends, truly has a heart of gold,” said Shaughnessy. “It is always so important to Jan that these teenagers be remembered at Christmas and receive something beautiful. We always kid her when we put the gifts together that we would want a gift that Jan assembled because she always fills it to overflowing. But that’s Jan’s personality—overflowing with generosity and always available to donate her time and talent to a project that benefits someone in need. Everybody loves Jan Fant.”

Norma Faulker has known Fant since their children went to school together.

“Janet’s enthusiasm for the Gifts for Teens project is contagious,” said Faulkner. “She wants each and every basket or bag to be special. ‘Make them look like Nordstroms’ she’ll tell the assembly team. ‘We want the kids to be excited about their gifts.’ She’s a warm loving person who pitches in to make sure at least these selected teenagers will have a merry holiday.”

These days, Fant is busy taking a tally of donations from Cisco that a volunteer has acquired—logo shirts, pens, bags, notepads and other items. She’s excited about a contribution of knitted hair scrunchies. A criterion for the Gifts for Teens is that all items be new. Benoit had a presentation to a service organization for much-needed grant money. Faulkner and others have been to DeAnza Flea Market to shop for bracelets and they are always asking other teens what they like.

In addition to seeking donations, Gifts for Teens needs volunteers to assemble the festive bags on Dec. 14, 15 and 16. The rush is on to fill the baskets and bags to create a merry Christmas for needy teens.

To donate teen-appropriate gifts, call Janet Fant at (408) 268-5539 or Elaine Benoit at (408) 268-5539. Make checks payable to ISPF-AAUW and mail to AAUW—Gifts for Teens, 1165 Minnesota Ave., San Jose, CA. 95125. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent permissible by law.

To help fill baskets and bags, call Cheryl Markman at (408) 578-8315 to schedule a work time at SHCS on Dec. 14, 15 or 16.