Plainview students, community members gather hundreds of gifts in 'Things for Teens' drive

Students at a Plainview high school spent a majority of the week collecting Christmas gifts for their peers.

"We just kind of wanted to provide a Christmas present to those in need, who wouldn't get one anywhere else," Jentri Rayburn, student council co-president, said.

Students and people in the community donated hundreds of gifts on Thursday to go to teenagers in need.

Rayburn said the Things for Teens drive benefits those who may be overlooked.

"People always donate to littler kids and then focus on the elderly," Rayburn said. "Teenagers are kind of left out as the middle ground, so we wanted to focus on them too."

Students donated items like socks, cosmetics, sports equipment and gift cards.

Rayburn said this is the second year to team up with fellow students in the Chick-fil-a Leader Academy, who started the campaign last year.

The goal for the first year was 400 items which the students more than doubled, reaching about 1000.

"So this year we set it for 1100 and today we surpassed that," Rayburn said. "We've reached 1200 today."

Co-president Caroline Harris said the gifts will go to Plainview students and other area students in need as well as the Grace Center and children's shelter.

"It feels really good because Christmas is all about giving," Harris said. "It's really fun that we get the opportunity to give to teens to make their Christmas a little bit better. Also, I think that, on days like these, it brings the school together and boost school morale, so that's really cool too."

Plainview student council plans to bring back Things for Teens next Christmas season.