While generally the holiday season is one of the happiest times of year, for many LGBTQ+ youth in and around the valley, “home for the holidays’’ is often not a reality.

However, one valley LGBTQ+ organization is hoping to foster an experience of belonging for their youth, and is calling on the community to help them do so.

On Dec. 17, one-n-ten is bringing back their in-person Queermas celebration to lift the spirits of LGBTQ+ youth across the Valley and help ensure they have something to celebrate this holiday season. Through its Adopt-A-Diva Program, one-n-ten has asked youth to create custom holiday Amazon wish lists for community angels to choose a digital gift tag and purchase a personalized gift for a youth in the community to open at their Queermas event.

Wish lists include everything from restaurant gift cards to quick meals, games, toys, school supplies, shoes, jackets and even gender-affirming clothing they may not have access to otherwise. All online purchases through the digital gift tags are set to be delivered directly to Santa’s workshop at one-n-ten, so those who wish to donate can do so from the comfort of their own home.

When the youth arrive at the celebration to receive their gifts, the event will be rounded out with a hot meal, decorations and hot cocoa.

“We’ve seen how being able to have a safe space to celebrate the holidays and unwrap a present that’s personalized for them can completely lift the confidence and spirits of our youth” said one•n•ten CEO Nate Rhoton. “Many of them are struggling this time of year, we hope that by celebrating with their one-n-ten family we can instill a sense of belonging and importance that will stay with them through the new year and beyond.”