James A. Baldwin stated that, “Anyone who has ever struggled with poverty knows how extremely expensive it is to be poor.” Not only are families struggling financially at a disadvantage because they can’t qualify for discounts or buy in bulk, but their children can suffer emotionally because they don’t have the resources needed to be successful in school and to keep up with their peers. The mission of Kenzi’s Kidz is to support underprivileged children and their families in Colorado by providing toys, food, and more during the holidays, school supplies and clothing during the school year, and assisting families through community outreach, financial planning, and professional support.
Kenzi’s Kidz relies on sponsors to contribute to the needs of our participating families. In 2010, we started with one family and continued to add another family each year until 2015 when we were able to sponsor six families! For the upcoming 2016/2017 school year our goal is to again sponsor six families.
In order to do this , we need sponsors!
If you are in a place to give and desire to build up the community around you, we would be happy to have you sponsor one of our families.
Fund a Family $2,500
By becoming a Kenzi’s Kidz Fund a Family Sponsor, you ensure that one family in our program has the financial assistance they need for one full year. Your gift presents this family with peace of mind and the ability to re-focus on their future, and offers them the security they need to believe in that future. In addition, you will get updates on the impact your gift is having on the family.
Our sponsors get to select the family they support from our accepted applicants and many of our donors build a relationship with the family they’ve chosen to sponsor (though sponsorship can be anonymous). Sponsors get updates any time we spend money on the family and they receive photos and written experiences from the family. It may not seem like enough, but it is only $2500 to sponsor a family for one year. This payment can be broken up into monthly, quarterly, or bi-annual payments. Contact us if you would like to break up the payments.
With these funds, Kenzi’s Kidz supplies the children in these families the fundamental items needed to succeed in school, such as school supplies and fees, clothing, and extracurricular activities. Other items we provide them with include winter jackets, hats, gloves, boots, Halloween costumes, birthday parties and gifts, holiday gifts, desks, beds and bedding, towels, and supplemental food for one year. We also help with various other needs to ensure the family’s life continues on a path towards stability. For example, last year we assisted a family with their car repairs so the parents could get to work to continue to provide for their children.
Wonder if this assistance really helps? Marcellina’s family was one of our sponsored families in 2011 and she says, “Our quality of life has certainly improved in a huge way. My children and I have choices in the activities that have been offered to us for the summer. We are able to attend the zoo and water parks with guests. Not to mention the clothes that were provided for us. This added to the needed summer wardrobe. As a single mom being able to take my kids to places as a family, and have fun, makes us all feel good. This opportunity gave my children the added confidence that we are a normal family.”
