After realizing that at-risk
teenage girls receive fewer
gifts and donations than
younger children in need,
Sonja Perkins collected
makeup, jewelry and gift cards
to help these young women
feel cherished and confident.
To d ay, she’s given hope to
more than 500,000 girls!S
onja Perkins sat at her kitchen table
smiling as she recalled the wonder-
ful holiday party she had attended
the night before. Her heart swelled think-
ing of the mountain of gifts the San
Francisco Firefighters Toy Program had
collected for children in need, and the
California mom found herself wanting
to do even more to help their cause.
Picking up the phone, Sonja dialed the
organizer of the program. “Is there any-
thing else you need?” she asked.
The woman expressed gratitude for all
they had received, but admitted they could
use more items for teenage girls, who tended
to receive fewer gifts than the younger kids.
“I had no idea!” Sonja said, arranging to
send a check to help out. But as she hung
up, she couldn’t stop thinking about it.
If these girls don’t feel like their community
believes in them, how will they ever grow to
believe in themselves? Sonja wondered.
Suddenly, it came to her: She believed in
them. And she would find a way to show
them how truly loved they are.Spreading hope and joy
Reaching out to friends and family mem-
bers, Sonja got to work putting together
what was therea f ter referred to as a
“Glimmer Drive,” collecting previously trea-
sured jewelry, new makeup and gift cards to10 8/12/19^ Woma n’s World
“We give more than just gifts
to these girls, we give tokens
of joy and hope!” says Sonja
Perkins (second from left)
founder of Project Glimmer“When we lift up
POWER^
OF LOVESonja^ and^ her^ team^
have^ donated^ jewelry,^
makeup^ and^ other^
gifts^ to^ more^ than^ half^
a million^ at-risk^ teens^
and^ young^ women^