Kits for Kids 2023
Other Articles in:
Dear First Presbyterian members and friends,
You probably know a lot about Kits for Kids. We started in 2006. Each year, between May and August, we sew fabric bags and fill them with hygiene products that are not covered by SNAP. The Family Access Network – a wonderful non-profit working in our schools – distributes these bags. We work on the basis of an estimated homeless student population of 1000.
Thankfully there are many groups in the community that help us. School classes have sewn bags, Touchmark, the Bend Church, and other groups have filled bags we have sewn. For several years a lady in the congregation that meets at Bend High has sewn and donated bags; this year she has already given us over 100. We helped Crook County get started doing a similar project in their schools. Quota Club International has helped us with grants for several years. We welcome these comrades in the effort, but always First Pres has been the heart of the project.
In addition to all these individually and group filled bags, the K4K committee buys products from the Dollar Tree and fills bags several times a summer. We’ll let you know when so you can come help. There is no official count kept of how many bags come in filled and how many result from our Bag Fills, but we know the pandemic has made things very different . The last two summers we have had to fill more bags than usual at our bag fills and ask you for more money contributions instead of filled bags.. and you came through; we made our goal both summers.
This year, hopefully, we’ll be back to major bag filling by individuals in the congregation. Starting the Sunday after Easter we’ll have a table in the Commons area. There will be shopping lists, finished bags, kits to make into bags and instructions for sewing bags.
We will also be asking for monetary donations. We figure each bag is filled with products costing from $12 – $15. We appreciate the generous support the congregation has always given the project – sewing bags, filling bags and writing checks.
No child chooses to come to school dirty, no family wants to ask friends to share their home without contributing laundry soap and toilet paper. The need is real, the need is great, the need can be met with your help.
Thank you-
Ann Kelly for Kits for Kids
Related Ministries:
