ST. GEORGE — Every year, besides raising money to buy gifts for children in need, KONY’s Coins for Kids program also asks members of the community to personally “adopt” a family and buy gifts for the children. And the need this year is greater than ever
Tables will be set up at a local grocery store on Monday, Nov. 21, for anyone interested in adopting one of more than 500 disadvantaged families that need help during the holidays this year.
For more than three decades, Coins for Kids, a local nonprofit charitable organization, has been providing toys and Christmas presents for hundreds of less fortunate children and families. It relies solely on donations from individuals and private companies, and any administrative work associated with the charity is done by a network of volunteers. And with 100% of all proceeds going directly to the children, it’s the perfect time to spread some kindness and cheer to round out the year.
Coins For Kids Chairman Brian Musso said the adopt-a-family program connects a generous individual, business or group with deserving children in a family in need. Those who participate do all of the shopping for the family they are matched with, and this year there are 570 disadvantaged families and more than 1,600 children – one of the largest totals in the program’s history – who receive help through the Coins for Kids program.
There also has been a drop in the number of individuals and families who have signed up to participate. In fact, by this time last year, more than half of the needy families were already connected with a volunteer family, and this year, that number has dropped to less than a third.
As such, Musso said, for the first time in the program’s history, they are holding a four-hour event where the community can sign up to adopt-a-family for Christmas. Signups will be held at Harmons Grocery located at 1189 E. 700 South in St. GeorgeMonday, Nov. 12, from 4-8 p.m.
Volunteers will be on hand so that members of the public can sign up and be matched with a recipient family. That way, anyone considering participating can go over their budget and determine how much they can spend on the adopted family or the number of needy children they are able to provide presents for.
Musso, a 23-year volunteering veteran of Coins for Kids, went on to say the program not only does wonders for hundreds of children and families during such a special time of the year, but it also provides a venue for those in the community who want to do something good during the holidays.
And the fact is, he said, it takes hundreds of volunteers to support the effort, and Coins For Kids would not be able to do what it does without the help of the community.
“We do our best to help as many people as we possibly can here in the community, and this program is near and dear to me,” he said.
For more information, visit the Coins For Kids website or call their hotline at 435-634-6210.
Event details
- What: Adopt a Coins for Kids Family.
- When: Monday, Nov. 21, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Where: Harmons Grocery, 1189 E. 700 South in St. George.
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