IMPACT
5 YEARS
4 PROJECTS
15,000+ LIVES IMPACTED
Impact 2023
2023 was a transformative year for KIDS Community. In 2023, we witnessed significant growth in our annual food drive and efforts to address Food Insecurity, collecting over 750 pounds of food, demonstrating the collective generosity and compassion of our community members.
Additionally, we took a proactive approach to fostering inclusivity and well-being through the initiation of the JUST PLAY! program. This groundbreaking initiative aims to provide accessible sports and recreational opportunities for youth of all ages and abilities, promoting physical and mental health and well-being. The successful pilot testing of open play sessions allowed us to fine-tune and tailor the program to meet the diverse needs of our community.
Building on this success, we developed two new programs, each designed to address specific areas of community enrichment - Partner in Health and Dare to Lead. As we look ahead to the first quarter of 2024, the planning of our inaugural "Just Play" event signifies a milestone in our journey towards building a more connected, resilient, and vibrant community.
Impact 2022
In 2022 we began work on a new initiative ... a research and community action program to assess the status of community-based youth sports in the evolving landscape of club sports and the professionalization of youth sports, impacts of loss of access to youth sports on health and wellness of youth from low socioeconomic backgrounds, and potential solutions to address funding for and access to community-based youth sports. We are so excited to launch this initiative, beginning with an assessment of the status of youth sports in the Raleigh - Durham area and surrounding counties. Visit the K.I.D.S. Community PROGRAMS page for more information on this exciting initiative!
Also in 2022, K.I.D.S. Community distributed an additional $25,000 in school and office supplies donated by a local pharmaceutical company to local teachers and schools. In addition, we again partnered with local organizations, Saint Mary's School and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC. This year, collectively, over 600 pounds of food and personal care items were delivered to the food bank, our highest amount ever! Thank you to all who made our annual food drive a success!
Impact 2021
In 2021, K.I.D.S. Community partnered with a local pharmaceutical company to distribute over $50,000 in school and office supplies to local teachers and schools in preparation for return to in-person learning following the COVID-19 pandemic. These supplies helped to support an estimated 5,000-6,000 students and teachers across the region.
Also in 2021, and again in partnership with local organizations, Saint Mary's School and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC, K.I.D.S. Community helped support a winter food drive, providing food and personal care items to the Food Bank of Central Eastern NC. Once again, collectively, over 500 pounds of food and personal care items were collected and delivered to the food bank Many thanks to all those who contributed to donating more than (est.) 400 meals to families in our community.
Impact 2020
K.I.D.S. Community partnered with St. Timothy's School, Raleigh, to launch its first community service project. Together, members of K.I.D.S. Community and Saint Timothy's School After School Care Program built a blessing box, a type of pantry or food bank that is available to members of the community to take and leave non-perishable food items and other essentials. These boxes are often placed in public areas such as churches, schools, or community centers in and are intended to provide assistance to those in need. The idea behind a blessing box is to create a community-supported system for helping those who may be struggling to provide for themselves or their families. Blessing boxes are often stocked by members of the community and operated on a "take what you need, leave what you can" basis, creating a sense of shared responsibility and solidarity within the community. In addition to building the box, participants contributed to a food drive to stock the box, donating over 200 pounds of food, an estimaged 80 meals for those in need.
In December 2020, in partnership with local organizations, Saint Mary's School and Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC, K.I.D.S. Community helped to support a food drive to assist local community members in need. Collectively, over 500 pounds of food and personal care items were collected and delivered to the food bank. Thank you to all those who contributed to donating more than (est.) 400 meals to families in our community.
Impact 2024 - Our Most Impactful Year Yet!
2024 marked a milestone year for K.I.D.S. Community, Inc., our most impactful year yet. Together with students, families, and community partners, we expanded our reach, strengthened our mission, and built new pathways for youth leadership, service, and community connection.
In 2024, we organized our largest food drive to date, collecting and donating over 800 pounds of food to local families in need.
We also began scoping our new sports initiative, JUST PLAY!, a program designed to reimagine access, equity, and engagement in youth athletics. The early phase has focused on research and dialogue with community leaders, educators, and innovators to explore new models for inclusion, wellness, and participation in youth sports.
In addition, K.I.D.S. Community joined forces with the American Heart Association through the Cor Vitae Society and Teen of Impact campaign, raising over $20,000 to support heart health research and community awareness initiatives.
These efforts reflect our growing commitment to connecting youth leadership with real-world impact in health, wellness, and community development. As we look ahead, K.I.D.S. Community remains focused on creating opportunities for young people to learn, lead, and serve—building healthier communities through compassion, action, and innovation.