LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Totes4Teens delivered holiday Totes for Lake County teens to various agencies and high schools on Nov. 27.

The deliveries made 146 teens very happy for this holiday season. As a recipient student from a Totes4Teens local continuation high school said, “No one has ever done such a nice thing for me in my life.”

Totes4Teens is an all-volunteer organization that serves more than 130 teens each year with holiday gifts sent in a duffel bag or suitcase and Santa bag.

The group works with Lake County’s Child Protective Services director and local continuation high school principals to identify teens with the greatest needs.

The totes are actually a large duffel bag (or suitcase) and Santa utility bag filled with essential items for teens in need throughout Lake County.

The essential items consist of warm clothing like a coat or jacket, scarves and hats, socks, T-shirts and pajamas.

Totes4Teens volunteers personally make most of the hats and scarves. The duffel bag is filled to capacity with school supplies, toiletries in a zippered bag, soap wrapped in a hand knit wash cloth, filled Christmas stocking, a gift each for an adult female and an adult male, large insulated lunch box and hot and cold tumblers, pre-stamped cards for conventional mailing and more.

The Santa bag includes a size-appropriate sleeping bag, fleece blanket (made by Soroptimists of Clearlake), pillow with unique custom-made pillowcases, sports balls and bath towel.

Although 146 teens received these Totes, many more are left out due to lack of funds and capacity.

Totes4Teens raises funds strictly within Lake County from individuals and businesses. Volunteers shop for bargains throughout the year, but the best deals can usually be found right after Christmas, so funds are needed in December to support purchasing activity for the next year.

The goal is to buy new and best quality available within the budget. Volunteers from AmeriCorps this year said they were impressed with the quality of all the items accumulated.

Since 2005, Totes4Teens has donated to 1,949 teens. The community’s support is most appreciated, not only by members of the team but by the many teens who are so thankful to know their community cares about them.

For more information, please visit www.totes4teens.org.