Congregations For Kids

A nonprofit organization

$666 raised by 9 donors

22% complete

$3,000 Goal

Mission

C4K's annual Good Start Back to School project provides backpacks as well as school supplies for home use for over 2000 requested individual K- 12 students from low-income families in the Bellevue (WA) School District. They come from many backgrounds; some are refugees from war in Ukraine and violence in other countries, escaping domestic violence, or experiencing job loss or homelessness. All are experiencing poverty. Over 34,760 district requests since 1996 have been filled by a small group of volunteers who purchase and prepare them. A refugee parent said, "When I arrived to register my son at school, I never imagined that they would also give us a backpack and supplies for him. That made me cry, seeing so much kindness. Thank you all very much." 

Description

Congregations for Kids, a coalition of local congregations, is comprised of a small and dedicated group of volunteers, sponsored by the Eastside Interfaith Social Concerns Council, who assist students from low-income families in the Bellevue (WA) School District to get a Good Start Back to School every fall.

Congregations for Kids' fourteen-member steering committee consists of volunteers from seven congregations. We partner with the Bellevue School District, Eastside businesses, community organizations and individuals to equip students with backpacks and supplies needed for the school year. During our 27th annual project last year we prepared backpacks and purchased customized kits of supplies for 3,600 students in all grade levels. As individuals we cannot do it alone, but together what a difference we can make, backpack by backpack!

An elementary school staff person says that the backpacks and supplies provided a joyful lifeline to normalcy during pandemic uncertainty, and this lifeline continues. A refugee parent explains, "When we arrived in this country, we had nothing. All my children's things had been left behind. It's very sad for them. At school they gave my children backpacks with school supplies. That made them so happy because they had their own things again." 

Several families from Ukraine are enrolled in the Bellevue School District, arriving with only suitcases and backpacks containing their clothing and personal items from their journey from Ukraine to Bellevue. One small boy loved his new backpack provided by Congregations for Kids so much that he put almost all of his belongings in it. He said that if the war came again, he could just run away. He was assured that he is safe and will be supported here. His family has now moved into permanent housing. 

This summer's Good Start Back to School project will be a little different. We'll still provide backpacks. The Bellevue School District plans to provide basic school supplies for community classroom-only use for all district students. Congregations for Kids will supply school supplies for the students we help to use at home, since families often lack these. This will enable students to continue to work on projects and complete their assignments. Every backpack and school supplies have a story and makes an impact on the recipient. 

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Congregations For Kids

Category

Education

Demographics

Low-Income, Youth & Children

Address

PO Box 662
Bellevue, WA 98009-0662

Service areas

Bellevue, WA, US