Southlake, TX (PRWEB) December 16, 2014
As holiday shoppers are bustling around and checking off items on their holiday shopping lists, some local families in need are wishing simply for warm clothes as the cold weather looms. It is at this time each year that Kids Matter hosts their annual “Around the Block” event with a goal to clothe more than 1,000 children in need this holiday season.
The eighth-annual Kids Matter “Around the Block” clothing program was held on Nov. 18 and was presented by Boston’s Pizza Foundation at the KOHL’S department store at State Highway 114 and Southlake Boulevard. Kids Matter worked with local school systems, churches, social service groups and other nonprofit organizations to identify and contact the local families of the children.
“The last thing families should be worried about during the holiday season is if they will have warm enough clothes for their children. Through the generosity of our partners, we were able to clothe 1,272 children at this year’s event” said Joe King, president and CEO of Kids Matter. “At KMI, it has always been our dream to make that a reality for as many families as possible and with support from companies such as Boston’s, we are given the resources to make that happen this year.”
The KMI “Around the Block” program enables families with limited resources to make sure their children get the clothing they really need for Christmas, including a brand new pair of shoes, new backpack with books and most importantly with the change of weather, a chance to get a brand new jacket. The children are accompanied by their parents and get to pick out their own selection of clothes, ensuring they get exactly what they want.
“If you have never experienced the KMI ‘Around the Block’ evening at KOHL’S, there is no better way to get your family into the Christmas spirit,” commented Coye Conner, chairman of Kids Matter.
The majority of the funding for this year’s KMI “Around the Block” evening comes from the Boston’s Pizza Foundation (Boston’s Restaurant and Sports Bar). The Boston’s Pizza Foundation hosts a fall charity golf tournament every year that supports local charities.
“As a restaurant, our job isn’t only to fill the hungry stomachs of our guests—but it’s also to do what we can to help improve the well-being of our local community,” said Troy Cooper, chief operating officer of Boston’s Restaurant & Sports Bar. “The holiday season is really tough for so many families and here at Boston’s we feel honored to be able to help, especially during this time of year.”
Local families with limited resources will be able to find comfort in the fact that their children will not have to struggle this holiday season through the partnership between the Boston’s Pizza Foundation and KMI’s “Around the Block” program.
In addition to the Boston’s Pizza Foundation, KMI partnered with the Ryan Palmer Foundation, Buckner International and the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy again this year. Ryan and Jennifer Palmer once again provided a new backpack for each child and Buckner International provided each child with a new pair of shoes. The Barbara Bush Foundation provided books to all of the children to promote literacy and to stimulate their learning experience. This year, Pro Players Foundation provided bagged lunches for all of the families and the army of volunteers.
Parents and their children were welcomed by over 400 volunteers at the event to help make the shopping experience as joyous and fun as it can be. The best part was that Santa Claus was there, arriving on a fire truck to greet the children and their families and spread some holiday cheer. Each family went through a registration process and was paired with one of the KMI volunteers to assist the family with the event experience. Each family was given a $100 voucher per child to spend on their specific clothing needs. Once the shopping was over, the children proceeded to the designated tents to pick up their shoes, backpack, and books.
About the Company:
Kids Matter International is a Texas-based not-for-profit 501(c)(3) dedicated to serving the needs of disadvantaged children locally, nationally and internationally. KMI operates or partners with charities and communities in the United States, India and Honduras. Kids Matter (KMI) was founded in 2006 in the manner that many non-profits do – good people see a need in the community and decide to serve that particular cause. What sets KMI apart is the extent of influence the volunteers and board members have had on the local and international community in just the few short years it has operated. With over a dozen programs, Kids Matter has clothed, fed, educated and enhanced the lives of thousands of children and their families.