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Kid’s Closet Places Third in National Contest

Published: August 19, 2015 By: Michael Gallenberger, WKVI 

Kid’s Closet, which collects clothing and school supplies for kids in Starke County, has received $6,500 after finishing third in an online poll. Safeco Insurance’s Make More Happen Contest awarded grants to 33 organizations nationwide who had been nominated by local insurance agencies.

Each organization got $3,000. Plus, since the contest surpassed its goal of 28,000 votes, the organizations each got another $500. On top of all that, Kid’s Closet got another $3,000 for finishing third.

Kid’s Closet founder and director Linda Lewandowski says the money will help the organization buy clothing and school supplies throughout the year, “This means we will have the funds to purchase the things that we do not have in stock. We do have a lot of gently used clothes in stock, but many times we don’t have the size that a child needs, so we have to go shopping for that need.”

The organization was nominated by Carrie Block from First Choice Insurance. She says winning third place in a national contest says a lot about the local community, “Being a small community, I didn’t know if we would even have a chance to be in the running, trying to advertise and get the word across our community. I just had no idea where we might be able to place, and week after week as I saw the results coming in, I was just completely blown away that we were able to accomplish that.”

Kid’s Closet is a ministry of North Judson United Methodist Church and serves children throughout Starke County.

Kid’s Closet Ministry Receives Grants to Help Starke County Youngsters

Published: July 6, 2015

By: Jacque Ryan, WKVI

A foundation that focuses on providing for the community has recently received quite a substantial amount of money for their dedication to the well being of the children of Starke County. Kid’s Closet Ministry was not only gifted a $2,000 grant through the Starke United Fund but recently was approved to receive $3,000 thanks to the kind submission of a community member who realized the importance of the foundation.

First Choice Insurance employee Carrie Block contacted the founder of of Kid’s Closet Ministry, Linda Lewandowski to ask her permission to apply for a grant through Safeco’s “Make More Happen” program. Lewandowski provided all the necessary information and Block applied for the grant, which was approved. The organization receives an initial $3,000 however it doesn’t end there.

Lewandowski explained that citizens have a unique opportunity to help the foundation receive more grant money just by voting for Kid’s Closet Ministry online, “It will be done through the Safeco website, where people can go in and vote for an additional three to ten thousand dollars once they get that up and running which is going to be pretty soon, I think by the end of July.”

The $3,000 from Safeco is going to be spent on purchasing shoes, socks, underwear and other various clothes items that aren’t currently in stock. The $2,000 from the Starke United Fund will be spent to purchase supplies and school bags for the Kid’s Closet Ministry annual ‘Pack-a-Backpack’ Event.

However, the grant can only provide so much. Lewandowski reported that last year about 250 children came through the doors of the fellowship hall at the North Judson Methodist Church during the event. This year they expect even more kids and families to attend. For this reason Kid’s Closet will be posted in front of the Dollar General stores in Knox and North Judson collecting additional school supplies on Saturday, July 11 from 8 am until 2 pm.

You have a chance to contribute to this event that helps children of the community go back to school prepared. Lewandowski stressed the importance of such an event, “I think it’s very important for children to go to school with all the right supplies that they need to learn and to grow in school. It give them self confidence, self esteem just to have all the right things that they need.”

You meet the criteria for this event if you qualify for free or reduced lunch or any other kind of financial aid. The Kid’s Closet Ministry Pack-a-Backpack event is scheduled to take place July 27th and 28th in the North Judson United Methodist Church fellowship hall. If you’re unsure about whether or not you can qualify or have any questions about Kid’s Closet Ministry contact Director Linda Lewandowski at 574-896-2611.