The YWCA Center for Safety and Empowerment in Topeka is helping local families in need to have a happy holiday season. The center is calling for donations of gift items for their 12th annual holiday store.

To support the holiday store and provide this opportunity of gift-giving for families in need, the YWCA will be taking gift donations up until Dec. 10. For donations, the YWCA will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The YWCA is asking for unwrapped gifts that are appropriate for children, teens and parents. A full wish list of needed donations can be found at ywcaneks.org.

Vivian Mosier, public education coordinator for the YWCA Center for Safety and Empowerment, led the organization of the holiday store. Mosier said that it is wonderful to see the store open every year and the joy that it brings to families.

“The holiday season can be especially difficult for families in crisis and change. We at the Center for Safety and Empowerment will take some of the stress of the season off of our clients with the holiday store,” Mosier said. “Seeing the gratitude and relief on our clients’ faces to know that ‘Santa’ will be visiting their house, or the joy in children’s eyes when they are able to shop for their parent is so wonderful. The community helps provide this every year and we are all so thankful.”

The holiday store will be open from Dec. 14 to Dec. 23 for families in need.

The YWCA Center for Safety and Empowerment assists families who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence and human trafficking. The organization’s mission is to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

For more information about the holiday store or the YWCA Center for Safety and Empowerment, contact (785) 354-7927 or email Vivian Mosier at [email protected].