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Light One Candle Youth needs movie passes EDITOR'S NOTE : "Light One Candle" is an annual Mail Tribune feature that focuses on a single need of a person, family or agency during the holiday season. For information, call 776-4465 or e-mail [email protected] As holiday wishes go, it's a small one, hardly worth the space it would take in another kid's Christmas stocking. The 14-year-old Medford boy would like a couple passes to a movie matinee. But his family's finances are pretty lean after a year of unexpected hardship, says Sharon Schreiber of CERVS, the agency that's helping the boy. Although she's only in her 30s, his mother requires regular kidney dialysis and suffers from several other ailments. The boy's grandmother died recently from the effects of a brain tumor. And now his stepfather has been diagnosed with throat cancer. All of that leaves little time, attention or money for the teenager. Even a couple dollars spent to get into the budget cinema is a big deal, never mind popcorn and a soda. But a gift of movie passes, or a book of coupons to a fast-food restaurant would make a huge difference to this young man and other teenagers struggling to grow up under difficult circumstances. "These kids just want to fit in," Schreiber says. "They want what other kids want. They don't want to always feel different." This seems to be a particularly difficult year to obtain donations, Schreiber says. Food, clothing and toys for kids of all ages are in short supply at the Medford agency. That makes it even tougher to get donations for teens. Most contributions offered to very young children or adults, but not to adolescents. If you'd like to donate movie passes or fast-food coupons, deliver the items to the CERVS offices at 601 N. Grape St., Medford. Or call Schreiber at 779-8564. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA