By Daily Press staff
The American Red Cross of Santa Monica has a lot going on this month — garage sales, car washes and a dedicated day for business donations — all to support local youth.
On Thursday, Aug. 25, the Santa Monica chapter will hold its fourth annual “Neighborhood Youth in Action Percent Day.”
Local businesses will donate a percentage of their daily receipts to support the Santa Monica Red Cross youth services effort.
More than 436 youth from ages 11 to 18 are involved, representing numerous ethnic and religious backgrounds and speaking 17 different languages.
Donations go towards supporting Red Cross school clubs, leadership development programs, peer training, the Red Cross holiday toy drive for underprivileged children, intergenerational outreach and international youth projects, such as the tsunami relief efforts that three of the chapter’s teen volunteers participated in this summer.
Businesses can participate by donating a percentage of their Aug. 25 retail sales to the Santa Monica chapter’s youth programs. The exact dollar amount or percentage given is left up to each business owner’s discretion; however, it’s usually between 2 and 5 percent.
To sign up as a participating merchant or to find a participating merchant, call Jerry Washington, director of volunteers and youth services, at the Santa Monica chapter at (310) 394-3773, ext. 112 or go online at ww.redcrossofsantamonica.org. ■On Saturday, Aug. 27, the American Red Cross of Santa Monica will hold a community garage sale from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The annual event will be held in the chapter parking lot and basement at 1450 11th St.
“The sale gives bargain hunters a chance to pick up unique and useful items for a very good price,” said Carlos Menendez, the chapter’s office support associate.
Local residents are invited to donate household items, furniture, works of art, wearable clothing, sporting goods, tools, bric-a-brac and toys they no longer use.
Proceeds from sales will be used to help support the chapter’s health and safety education, youth services, CPR and first-aid training, as well as local disaster awareness and disaster relief efforts in the coming year.
The Santa Monica chapter will be cleaning out its own closet and selling old office furniture and other unused items donated over the past years.
“We can always use contributions from the public,” Menendez said. Donations of items and merchandise for the community garage sale will be accepted at the chapter during regular Monday-through-Friday business hours up to the day of the event.
“What is one person’s junk is often another person’s treasure,” Menendez said. “We only ask that donations be in good condition and in working order.” ■Youth volunteers will be washing cars on Tuesday, Aug. 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the parking lot at the Santa Monica chapter of the American Red Cross. Money raised will go toward supporting a wide range of youth activities at the chapter.
Cost for an “expert” hand wash of any car, small truck or sport utility vehicle is $5. A deluxe car wash package also is available. For $15, customers can have their vehicles washed and receive discount coupons for Red Cross first-aid or CPR courses offered at the Santa Monica chapter. A personal first-aid kit also is included as an added bonus.
The car wash is one of many youth activities sponsored by the Santa Monica chapter. Last year, more than 450 youth of middle school and high school age levels participate in programs that included disaster training, classes in first aid and CPR, working at various chapter public events and generally assisting around the chapter itself.
For additional information, contact American Red Cross of Santa Monica at (310) 394-3773 or online at www.redcrossofsantamonica.org.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 12, 2005. Read the original PDF.