Submitted by Lana Ebersole
Kids Matter International will host its annual Around thebrBlock clothing program presented by Boston’s the Gourmet Pizza at the KOHL’Sbrdepartment store at S.H. 114 and Southlake Boulevard on November 12th at 4 p.m.brKMI works with local school systems, churches, social service groups and otherbrnonprofit organizations to identify and contact the local families of thebrchildren.
“Last year, through the generosity of our partners, we werebrable to clothe over 1134 children,” said Joe King, President and CEO of KidsbrMatter International. The Around the Block program enables families withbrlimited resources to make sure their children get the things they really needbrfor Christmas, including a brand new pair of shoes. The children accompanied bybrtheir parents get to pick out their own selection of clothes ensuring they getbrjust exactly what they want.
“If you have never experienced the KMI Around the Blockbrevening at KOHL'S, there is no better way to get your family into the ChristmasbrSpirit,” said Coye Conner, Chairman of Kids Matter International.
The majority of the funding for this year's Around the Blockbrevening comes from the Boston's Pizza Foundation, which hosts a fall charitybrgolf tournament every year that supports local charities.
“We selected the KMI “Around the Block” program for thebrfourth year because it supports the children and families right here in ourbrcommunity,” said representatives of Boston's the Gourmet Pizza in the UnitedbrStates. “It has proven to be a great way to engage our vendors and ourbremployees alike to give back to the community.” Additionally, Boston's willbrprovide snacks and refreshments for all of the families and the army ofbrvolunteers.
In addition to the Boston's Pizza Foundation, The RyanbrPalmer Foundation and Ryan and Jennifer Palmer will once again be providing abrnew backpack for each child. We will also be partnering with The Barbara BushbrFoundation for Family Literacy again this year; the foundation will providebrbooks to these children to promote education and to enhance their learningbrexperience.
The KOHL'S doors will open at 4 p.m. on November 12th.brEach family goes through a registration process and then is paired with one of morebrthan 450 KMI volunteers to go shopping. Each family is given $100 per child tobrspend on their specific needs. Once the shopping is over, the children proceedbrto the Buckner International shoe tent where each child will receive a brandbrnew pair of shoes. Buckner International is a 134 year-old Dallas basedbrinternational charity.
”We currently partner with KMI on their Transition Centerbrfor Girls in Honduras, so we saw this as a natural opportunity to support thebrchildren here in the North Texas area,” said Randy Daniels, Vice President ofbrBuckner International.
Kids MatterbrInternational (KMI) is a faith based,brnot-for-profit 501(c)3 dedicated to serving the needs of disadvantaged childrenbrhere and around the world. KMI operates or partners with charities andbrcommunities in the United States, India, Honduras and the United Kingdom. KMI was founded in 2006 in the manner that many nonprofits do — goodbrpeople see a need in the community and decide to serve that particularbrcause. What sets KMI apart is the extent of influence the volunteers andbrboard members have had on the local and international community in just the fewbrshort years it has operated.