The GIFT (Gifts Inteded for Teens) Program was started by the McPherson Optimist Club in 1995 to fill a need in our community where kids who were no longer eligible to receive gifts from the Toys for Tots program because of their age would continue to receive gifts at Christmas time. The McPherson Optimist Club uses fundraisers and community donations to fund the program. Families of teens that are in need of assistance to purchase Christmas gifts for their children are able to apply for assistance. McPherson Optimist Club members do the shopping and wrap the gifts. Parents are able to pick the gifts up prior to Christmas.
One of the primary fundraisers for the GIFT program is the American Legion Family Night in November. Since the inception of this program the American Legion has partnered with the McPherson Optimist Club to use the November Family Night as a fundraiser for the GIFT Progam. Many thanks to the American Legion for this opportunity.
For more information about the GIFT Program or to make a donation contact:
Jack Rader - jack-rader@fami.com
Gifts Intended for Teens Application (pdf)
Thusday, November 21st the McPherson Optimist Club partnered with the American Legion to host Family Night with proceeeds supporting the Gifts Intended For Teens program. The Optimist club spent several weeks prior to the event selling tickets to members of the community. We had a great showing for the evening meal reusulting in a total of $1,290 raised to support the GIFT program. The Optimist club is very thankful for the American Legion for allowing us to partner with them for this cause and for their dedication to supporting our local community. Thanks to everyone who helped and to the community for showing up in support of the GIFT program.
The McPherson Optimist Club had a great time again in 2018 coming together to provide gifts for families with teenagers. We really love doing this program and providing gifts for teens in need. Here are a few pictures from our times together this year.
Shopping
Wrapping
Distributing
On November 15th, the McPherson Optimist Club partnered with the American Legion to sponsor the November 2018 Family Night. Each month the American Legion hosts a meal for the community in which they partner with a local organization to raise funds in support of the partnering organization. For $5 per person a family can come to the legion to have a meal and enjoy the fellowship of other community members while supporting a local cause. The McPherson Optimist Club has been blessed to be the recipient organization for the November meal since the inception of the Optimist Club's GIFTS for Teens program in 2003. This year the program raised $1,005 dollars through the Family Night meal. Thank you to all of the community members, Optimist volunteers, and the Legion volunteers for another successful fundraiser. 
This year our club helped 85 Teens and 20 elementary age kids have a brighter Christmas!
Here are some photos of this year's project, including shopping, wrapping and distribution of the gifts.
Great job again, Optimists!
The 2017 Family Night was once again a successful and fun evening for all. We want to thank the McPherson American Legion for once again giving the Optimist Club the opportunity to use the November Family Night as a fundraiser for the GIFT program. We were able to raise $740 that will go directly to the expense of purchasing Christmas gifts for teens in need.
YOU did it! Another year of wonderful service to the needy teens in our area through the GIFT program. Here are photos of the various stages of the event. A great big THANK YOU to those of you who volunteered to help make this year successful. Please remember to thank our friends at the American Legion and at the Main Street Deli, who provided financial support again this year.
The 2016 GIFT program is underway. Many volunteer opportunitues are available. This is one of the most impactful activities the McPherson Optimist Club does each year. Please click on the Sign Up link in the left-hand menu and choose some times you can volunteer to help make a great holday for the youth in our community.
To Sign Up to volunteer - Sign up to Volunteer for an Event
To learn more about the GIFT program - Gifts Intended for Teens (GIFT)
Kim, the owner, and the employees of the Main Street
Deli in McPherson donated $1,000 from tips they received
this year to go towards the Gift program.
Here are photos of the sign outside and of deli and of
the employees hard at work behind the counter. Be sure
to thank our friends at the Deli for their generosity in helping
the teens in our community!
The American Legion has again been a big supporter of the Gift Program in 2015. Pictured below is Jim LaDuke, a key member of the American Legion and a long time Optimist Club associate member. This year the Legion donated $1,000 to the Gift Project in addition to the $875 we earned through the Family Night at the Legion!
Great turnout , as usual. Thank you, Optimists, for helping with this great cause!
You did it again! 77 Teens and 10 Angel Tree kids were helped by the 2014 McPherson Optimist Club Gift program. Great job, Optimists! Here are some photos from the final stages of this year's project.
2015 GIFT Shopping
The Optimist Club showed up in droves at this year's Family Night at the Legion. Over 25 Optimist Club members attended the event, and many others showed their support by buying and/or selling tickets and providing desserts. The event this year will provide over $800 towards the Gift Program. Here are some photos for the festivities.
The work on this year's Gifts Intended for Teens (Gift) program is off to another great start. Cold and icy weather on the day of
the Family Night at the Legion held down the crowd a little, but as you can see the Optimist Club was out in full force. This important
fund raiser for our program was still successful in adding several hundred dollars to the cause. A big thank you goes to our
club members who either bought or sold tickets, made desserts or were able to attend the event. Here is a photo of most, but not all,
of the Optimist members who were able to attend the Family Night at the Legion.
