Kids Need Kiwanis & Kiwanis Needs Help During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Reaching a goal of $6,000 will ensure we can continuing donating at least 200 books each week for 10 weeks this summer to economically disadvantaged children during the covid-19 pandemic.
Kiwanis Children's Health, Education & Welfare Program
Our Kiwanis club has adopted a signature project to address brain development and literacy from infants through elementary school with a program of reading in classroom and distributing books to each child at preschools and Title I elementary schools. Our Kiwanis Children's Health, Education and Welfare (KCHEW) program was inspired by the Tennessee Department of Children's Services (DCS) and Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth (TCCY) to collaborate on the statewide initiative to help mitigate and provide resilience for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Then the Tennessee Department of Education (DOE) asked us to help improve the literacy of young children so they would be more successful in school and life. Our focus on books addressing the social and emotional learning themes covers both life-changing issues of children's health and education to result in a brighter future for them and society. The further request of Tennessee's DCS, TCCY and DOE was to share our program with the nearly 100 Kiwanis clubs across the state since the Kiwanis mission is focused on the health, education and development of children and youth.
COVID-19
The current health pandemic has caused a mid-course correction in our reading and distribution of books to young children in economically disadvantaged communities. With the virus closing schools early interrupting our plans including fundraising, We have distributed some books to low income families through the schools when food is picked up, and have started delivering sandwiches and books to similar families in North Nashville to which some recipients are coming from as far away as Antioch, Clarksville, and Cookeville. We will also begin reading to the children.
Keeping Our Doors Open
It is a scary time to call a community together, however, this is what we do in a time of crisis. The unknown is fearful for many of us, but in the midst of it all our mission remains and there is still work to be done. If we are unable to receive the funds needed to purchase more books, we will fail the we serve as the critical summer time arrives when education in the home is paramount and reading at least 20 minutes daily is recommended for all children.
Our Youth Needs Your Help
Your support will have a positive impact on many children and youth as well as their families and communities. The social and emotional learning books and resources will also help parents engage their children in developing their brains and gaining the valuable life skills of self-awareness, self-management, respecting others, building relationships and making decisions.
Every dollar makes a difference. Please consider making a donation today.
We have a partnership with some publishers where we can get excellent quality new books (some retailing for $10 or more) for only $3.00 each, so each $25 donated will help educate, entertain and develop 8 children, and maybe more if they have siblings.