Impact 2022
In 2022 we began work on a new initiative ... a research program to assess the status of community-based youth sports in the evolving landscape of club sports and the professionalization of youth sports, impacts of loss of access to youth sports on health and wellness of youth from low socionomic backgrounds, and potential solutions to address funding for and access to community-based youth sports. We are so excited to launch this initiative, beginning with an assessment of the status of youth sports in the Raleigh - Durham area and surrounding counties. Visit our 2023 Programs page for more information on this exciting initiative!
Also in 2022, K.I.D.S. Community distributed an additional $15,000 in school and office supplies to local teachers and schools. In Addition, we again partnered with NC Elite Volleyball Club, Saint Mary's School and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC, K.I.D.S. Community hosted a winter food drive, providing food and personal care items to the Food Bank of Central Eastern NC. This year, collectively, over 600 pounds of food and personal care items were collected and delivered to the food bank , our highest amount ever! Thank you to all who made our annual food drive a success!
Impact 2021
In 2021, K.I.D.S. Community partnered with a local pharmaceutical company to secure and distribute over $40,000 in school and office supplies to local teachers and schools in preparation for return to in-person learning following the COVID-19 pandemic. These supplies helped to support an estimated 4,000-5,000 students and teachers across the region.
In 2021, again in partnership with NC Elite Volleyball Club, Saint Mary's School and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC, K.I.D.S. Community hosted a winter food drive, providing food and personal care items to the Food Bank of Central Eastern NC. Once again, collectively, over 500 pounds of food and personal care items were collected and delivered to the food bank Many thanks to all those who contributed to donating more than (est.) 400 meals to families in our community.
Impact 2020
K.I.D.S. Community partnered with St. Timothy's School, Raleigh, to launch its first community service project. Together, members of K.I.D.S. Community and Saint Timothy's School After School Care Program built a blessing box, a type of pantry or food bank that is available to members of the community to take and leave non-perishable food items and other essentials. These boxes are often placed in public areas such as churches, schools, or community centers in and are intended to provide assistance to those in need. The idea behind a blessing box is to create a community-supported system for helping those who may be struggling to provide for themselves or their families. Blessing boxes are often stocked by members of the community and operated on a "take what you need, leave what you can" basis, creating a sense of shared responsibility and solidarity within the community. In addition to building the box, participants contributed to a food drive to stock the box, donating over 100 pounds of food, an estimaged 80 meals for those in need.
In December 2020, in partnership with NC Elite Volleyball Club, Saint Mary's School and Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC, K.I.D.S. Community hosted a food drive to help local community members in need. Collectively, over 500 pounds of food and personal care items were collected and delivered to the food bank. Thank you to all those who contributed to donating more than (est.) 400 meals to families in our community.