Teens Spread Holiday Cheer to Their Elders

I crashed a teen party Wednesday afternoon … at the library. I don't remember teenagers being this quiet. But then again, let's consider the company. I guess the after-school-library-going crowd isn't exactly what one would call rabble-rousers.  Plus, I was crashing, and what 15-year-old wants to talk to a 24-year-old (or anyone) at a library social event? Clearly, I was the social outcast of this group.

This collection of six teenagers—five girls and one guy—spent their snack-eating, after school time partaking in one of the Redondo Beach Public Library Teen Programs. Two of the more talkative attendees, Kevin and Jill, couldn't remember how they got involved in the program, but had been joining in on the various festivities for over a year.    

According to Brannigan Cheney, resident librarian and organizer of teen programs, the library hosts about two teen events per month; the last being at Thanksgiving where the group created artwork out of recycled comic book pages. Wednesday's gathering, Cards and Cookies, was a holiday card making session to benefit the elderly. 

Their goal for card-making was simple, "However many [cards] we can make in one hour," laughed Cheney, who then joked about being the leader of this small "holiday card sweat shop."

Quiet as they were, the group definitely enjoyed themselves, and not without the help of Isabella's Cookie Company cookies that had been donated for the event.  "They're the best cookies I've ever had in my life," said Cheney. The teen seemed to agree.        

Their creations will be delivered to the Senior Center at Knob Hill and distributed to the residents most in need of some holiday cheer. When asked about the experience, Jill exclaimed she felt, "so fulfilled!"  

All in all, the event appeared to be a success.  Since I couldn't take pictures of the kids' actual faces (their parents weren't present to grant permission) I took some creative liberties photo-wise.