Roseville, Minn. (June 2, 2020) – Kids In Need Foundation (KINF), through its Second Responder® program, and the Dollar General Literacy Foundation recently distributed school supplies and resources to students in Texas (Houston and Beaumont) and Kentucky (Estill and Breathitt counties). All four communities were recently struck by natural disasters, and collectively, the donation supported more than 172,000 students, 5,800 teachers, and 120 schools in the two states.
“Families, teachers, and students, particularly in underserved communities, have faced several challenges over the last year, which were then intensified by a natural disaster, further disrupting everyday life,” said Corey Gordon, CEO of Kids In Need Foundation. “We are grateful to be able to support educators, teachers and students as they navigate the adversities presented by these natural disasters and appreciate Dollar General Literacy Foundation’s commitment to our Second Responder® program.”
Students and educators were provided with backpacks and classroom packs that included pencils, crayons, colored pencils, glue sticks, folders, rulers, scissors, and hand sanitizer. Additionally, Second Responder® partnered with two members of KINF’s National Network of Resource Centers, School Tools in Beaumont and Teachers Aid in Houston to provide backpacks, activity books, paper towels, basic school supplies, and more.
“It’s during this time we see humanity at its best,” said Jeff Saylor, Superintendent of Estill County Schools. “Agencies and organizations near and far have reached out to see what they could do to help students impacted. With the help of Kids in Need Foundation and Dollar General Literacy Foundation, we will be able to provide much-needed supplies and classroom packs to those students and schools most impacted by the event.”
“We are proud to partner with the Kids In Need Foundation to provide critical supplies to students and teachers when they need us most,” said Denine Torr, Dollar General’s vice president of corporate social responsibility and philanthropy. “The severe winter storms in Texas and historic flooding in Kentucky impacted so many of our neighbors, and we hope these school supplies and educational materials will help communities rebuild to bring a sense of normalcy during these difficult times.”
KNIF and the Dollar General Literacy Foundation are committed to ensuring that every child should have equal opportunity and access to a quality education – despite all circumstances. By providing school supplies and books to students and teachers following natural disasters and throughout the pandemic, both foundations are inspiring students to continue to achieve their full potential through education.
About Kids In Need Foundation
Kids In Need Foundation (KINF), a nonprofit organization that believes every child in America deserves equal opportunity and access to a quality education, provides the support and tools needed for teachers to teach and learners to learn. By providing essential school supplies, distance learning resources, and other classroom items in high demand, KINF partners with teachers in underserved schools to ensure students are prepared to learn in the classroom. In 2020, through its programs and National Network of Resource Centers, comprised of more than 40 mission-driven organizations nationwide, KINF served an estimated 5 million students, 205,000 teachers, and provided over $70 million in product at no cost to schools or teachers. For more information, visit KINF.org, and join us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter: @KidsInNeed.
About the Dollar General Literacy Foundation
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is proud to support initiatives that help others improve their lives through literacy and education. Since 1993, the Foundation has awarded more than $197 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 14 million individuals take their first steps toward literacy, a general education diploma or English proficiency. To learn more about the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, visit https://www.dgliteracy.org/.
Photos: Estill County Schools // Breathitt County Schools
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