Shopping for teens can feel intimidating. They’re not little kids anymore, but they’re not quite adults either. Interests change quickly. Tastes are personal. And many well-meaning donors worry about getting it wrong. That uncertainty is one of the biggest reasons teens are often overlooked during the holidays. It’s easier to buy toys for younger kids.…

Count Us In didn’t start as an idea on paper. It started with lived experience. We are single parents. We have raised teens. And we have watched, year after year, how support quietly fades once kids hit a certain age. Somewhere around 12 or 13, the world seems to decide that childhood needs are “handled”…

Angel trees appear every winter in grocery stores, churches, schools, and community centers. Paper ornaments hang from branches, each bearing a child’s first name, age, and a short wish list. Shoppers pause, select a tag, and feel the quiet satisfaction of knowing they have helped make a child’s holiday brighter. But if you look closely,…

When people think about helping kids in need, they usually picture younger children. Toy drives fill up fast. Angel trees are claimed quickly. The focus tends to stay on little ones. Teens, however, are often quietly left behind. Not because they do not need support, but because their needs look different. Teen years are complicated.…

Hygiene product drives don’t always get the same attention as toy collections or school supply lists, but for teens, they can make an enormous difference. Clean socks, deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, and menstrual products aren’t extras. They’re basics. Yet for many teens, these everyday items are some of the hardest to consistently access. When we talk…

Every summer, back-to-school drives show up in our communities with the best intentions. Collection bins fill with crayons, glue sticks, folders, and small backpacks. Volunteers sort supplies, families line up, and there’s a real sense of care behind it all. Those efforts matter. They help many kids start the school year feeling ready. But for…