A Merry Grinchmas For All

My name is Colby Reichenbach. I am a junior at Billings West High School, and am part of the Platinum Program. For my enrichment project, I have chosen to help our city's struggling teen population by collecting gift cards that will be distributed to teens in need in our local high schools, collecting food and personal care items for the teen food pantry and raising money to support Tumbleweed.

The idea for this project started many years ago in my neighborhood. I grew up in Josephine Crossing or what people like to call "Whoville" over the holiday season. Our neighborhood has collected food and other items for many deserving programs in our community. Over the last couple of years my family switched it's focus to helping our local teen population. My dad has coached almost every sport in Billings and my mom is a middle school teacher and coach. We have had many conversations in our house about the struggles that many kids face and when I joined the Platinum Program I knew that helping other students my age would be my focus. My father and I have dressed as the Grinch and Santa Claus to greet families as they come to visit Whoville for many years. My freshman year of high school my family decided we would try to do a little more than collect food during our meet and greets. We had heard that the local high schools collected gift cards for teens in the school who needed a little extra love over the holidays. That year we collected both food and gift cards to be distributed to West, Senior and Skyview. We have continued that tradition now for the last couple of years. For my enrichment project I wanted to continue our family tradition, but take it to a new level. Enter Tumbleweed, an amazing program that provides support to homeless, trafficked, runaway and otherwise at risk youth and their families in our community. This is a BIG project and I can't do it alone. Want to join me in making a difference? Please consider helping make Christmas a little brighter for some very deserving teens in our community and grow your heart 3 sizes. Here is what you can do to help

1. Donate directly to Tumbleweed through my GoFundMe

2. Come deliver gift cards, food or personal care items to the Grinch and Santa in Josephine Crossing on our selected dates (visit our website for dates and times)

3. Drop off items to the drop box located in Josephine Crossing on Elysian Road (look for the sign and giant grinch)