Teens take stand against domestic violence

STEPHANIE BERTHOLDO/Acorn Newspapers YOUNG ACTIVISTS-Calabasas High School student members of Teens Against Domestic Violence gather to discuss plans for their new club. Top row, from left: Kevin Kindel, Max Deng, Ryan Kindel, Chris Hayes, advisor Linda Hayes, Chris Kurtenbach and Trevor Kindel. Front row: Evan Plotkin, Max Gaspin, Sameer Ahmed and Henry Blackman. The freshmen who formed the club want to raise awareness of domestic violence and are raising funds to support two local shelters. The number of domestic violence incidents in the United States is staggering. According to Los Angeles County's Domestic Victim's Handbook called "It Shouldn't Hurt to Go Home," more than three million domestic violence incidents are reported each year. Of those, 4,000 people are killed by their partner.

Most victims of domestic violence are women. Children may also be physically battered, but the emotional toll of watching a parent being harmed is in itself psychologically damaging, and oftentimes a child who grows up in a violent household continues the cycle into adulthood.

The startling statistics prompted a group of local teenagers to take action. Under the guidance of Linda Hayes, a social worker who mediates child custody disputes for Los Angeles Superior Court, 10 Calabasas High School freshmen launched Teens Against Domestic Violence, a charity to help families and children affected by domestic violence.

The group is sponsoring toy drives on Sat., Dec. 9 and Sun., Dec. 10 to support two domestic violence shelters-Haven Hills, headquartered in Canoga Park, and Sojourn Services in Santa Monica. The Saturday drive will be held at the Westfield Promenade in Woodland Hills from noon to 6 p.m., and Sunday's drive will be at the Westfield Topanga Mall in Canoga Park, also from noon to 6 p.m.

"It just came out of a conversation between my son and myself," Hayes said of the charity developed only six weeks ago. "This charity has grown beyond my expectations."

In just six weeks, the 10 students have persuaded 41 local businesses and families to sponsor 36 families at Sojourn Services. Haven Hills is being supplied with a variety of products and gifts to help families at the shelter or setting up a new household.

As well as the group has done in such a short period of time, the young members want to build momentum to make doubly sure that everyone at both shelters has a festive holiday.

"They've done really well," Hayes said. More than 100 toys were collected at a Ralphs supermarket toy drive. The group asked Barnes & Noble to help support the

cause, and the booksellers chose to sponsor Teens Against Domestic Violence over Los Angeles Childrens Hospital this year, Hayes said. The store will donate 500 books for women and children.

The Nestle Corp. pledged $1,000 for each shelter. Aveda, a beauty salon in Calabasas, donated beauty products, haircuts and several $100 gift certificates. L'Occitane En Provence in Calabasas is donating 100 gift bags filled with lotions, soaps and other supplies, and West Hollywood Printing has donated more than $1,000 of printing services and has sponsored a family. Even Los Angeles Superior Court has jumped on the bandwagon. The court pledged to sponsor three families. Twenty-two individual families have also donated items and sponsored families.

Family sponsors are provided with the first names of members of a family at the shelters, along with their ages and clothing sizes. Members of the charity pick up the gifts and deliver them to the shelters. One hundred percent of donations go to the families, Hayes said. Other services including transportation and costs are absorbed by the members of charity and their families.

"There's only a few of us, and it really has gotten a lot bigger than anyone expected," said Chris Hayes, 14, a founding member of the charity.

The group has developed a wish list for the two drives planned this weekend. They want to collect everything from toys, dolls, books and games to clothing, coffee pots, utensils, school supplies and toiletries. "Anything a family would need for an enjoyable holiday and to begin a new life with hope," the organization's brochure states.

For further information, call Linda Hayes at (818) 591-0868 or e-mail her at lcswlinda@aol.com.