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.
