So many cool things can happen while waiting in the checkout lane of the grocery store. Here’s one thing you need to check out today: the below post. It is written by our own Emily Kobza, CIS Director of Development & Business Engagement.
Dear Kids’ Closet Supporter:
You donated items or made a monetary gift to our Kids’ Closet sometime in the past to help make sure that kids in our community have the basic clothing, school supplies, and personal hygiene products that they need so they can attend school comfortably and with dignity, ready to focus on learning. You never had the opportunity to know who benefited from your donation or what need it met – you just did it and trusted us to make sure that the student who needed a winter coat, a backpack, or a pair of sweatpants would be able to get that item. I want to share what this meant for one student.
A manager of a local business contacted me in early September to let me know that they wanted to donate a couple hundred travel-size personal care products to the Kids’ Closet. We made arrangements for me to pick them up later that week. As she was helping me load the donations into my car, the manager shared her shopping experience with me. She was excited that she had been able to take advantage of both a sale on these items and a promotion so she could get 260 items for the price of 200. As a fan of Extreme Couponing, I was impressed!
The cashier at the store helping to ring up these items was interested in why she was purchasing such a large quantity of personal care products. The manager explained that her business was donating these items to the Kids’ Closet of Communities In Schools of Kalamazoo to make sure that students were in school every day and able to focus on learning without the distraction of being embarrassed about their personal appearance. As she pushed her shopping cart away from the checkout lane, the cashier thanked her for making this donation. The manager said something along the lines of “Thanks, but I really like doing this, and I know it makes a difference for kids.” The cashier said, “No, I really want to thank you for what you’re doing because my child benefited from the Kids’ Closet.” She went on to say that her child came home from school last year with a small bag of items. She said she was a single mom and while she had a job, sometimes it was still hard to get everything her kids needed. She really appreciated the help that the Kids’ Closet had provided to help meet the basics for her child. Needless to say, the manager and I both got teary-eyed as she relayed this experience to me. She said, “I knew that this made a difference, but to hear it directly from someone who it made a difference for was really amazing.”
We know you don’t get to see the smiles on kids’ faces or hear them or their families, say “thank you,” but I wanted you to know that your donations are making a difference. On behalf of the thousands of kids who have accessed the Kids’ Closet, thank you for your generous support.
Last year, CIS distributed over 13,000 Kids’ Closet items! Interested in removing barriers to learning by helping to fill Kids’ Closet with new clothing, personal hygiene products, and school supplies for K – 12 students? It’s a great opportunity for our local businesses and faith-based organizations to get involved in helping our students achieve in school and in life. Contact Emily at ekobza@ciskalamazoo.org for to find out how you, your business, or service-oriented group can help.
Tags: basic needs, Emily Kobza, extreme couponing, Kids' Closet
