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"BLESS The KIDS" is a 2003 God-idea. Since then it has blossomed into a plan to serve our city by helping children in need to succeed in school by making sure they have a back pack filled with age appropriate school supplies. We started with four of us sitting at a dining room table discussing what we could do to help children and families. In the beginning, we distributed toiletries and toothbrushes at park outreaches and we took school supplies to mothers and their children at the local Gospel Mission.

In July 2004, we realized that many children we gave supplies to had no backpack and they needed more supplies than we were giving them. So, we took a new step forward and contacted our local schools. Every year since then, they have allowed us to "adopt" grade school children from low income and poverty families in order to provide them with a backpack, school supplies, activity books, small toys and toiletries.

Is there really a need for this? Yes, there is! When we talked with school principles, we found out there is a huge need and what we are doing is very helpful to them. We started by giving out 10 backpacks. Each year, the project has grown. In 2010 we gave 82, in 2011 we helped 140 and last school year we blessed 325 children.

Many children come to school without breakfast, lunch or lunch money. Those same children have no school supplies or backpack. The school feeds them & provides some supplies they can use while on campus. But, schools no longer provide what the children really need, that is all up to the parents. The parents haven't the income, so when the children leave school with their homework it's not completed properly the next day because they have no crayons, scissors, ruled paper or even a sharp pencil at home. These children have nothing!

In 2014 well over 500 children were in need. With help of our partners we blessed 325 of them with a back pack full of supplies...but needed to turn away 175 children because we did not have the resources to help them.  That's where you can make a really productive difference in the lives of even more children. Our goal is to help every child that needs assistance and with your prayers and support we can!

When we gave away the first backpacks stuffed with school supplies & some treats, one first grade child said, "This is the best day of my life!"  The next year another was overwhelmed because he got a ream of ruled paper for his very own. The year after that when we went to visit a school, one little boy named Jeremiah said "Is this mine? To Keep?!" When we said yes, he could hardly believe it. Every year  children spread out all of the things they receive and admired each item, with looks of amazement and great joy. Teachers report back to us that the children have more confidence and do better in school because they feel special and have the tools they need to succeed.

For $17 - $20 per child we get a nicely made, sturdy backpack and stuff it with lots of great supplies, toothbrush/paste kit, an activity book, and everyone of them gets a huggable stuffed toy. Scroll down for a list of what we include in the pack. If you can help, add us to your prayer list. If you are able to help financially, Thank YOU! Click here to make a donation.

Bless the Kids is an outreach of Cheryl Birch Ministries, Inc. We are a 501c3 nonprofit. Our sole purpose with this outreach is to help poverty and low-income children achieve greater success in school and to let them know that they are very special and important to our community.

If you like our ministry to the kids you can also support us by using Goodsearch/Goodshop to search the web and shop online. It costs you nothing! Goodsearch gives us 1 cent per search and, when you shop by linking through Goodshop, the merchants donate 1% to 5% (sometimes more) of your purchase to BTK! You experience huge savings at most major online stores and great coupons, too!! Click the Logo below and Check it out!  

Every Back Pack Includes:

• Ruled Paper
• White Drawing Paper
• Pocket Folders
• Pencils & Pens
• 2 Spiral Notebooks
• Composition Notebook
• Glue-sticks
• Erasers
• Ruler
• Set of Markers
• Pencil Box & Pencil Sharpener
• Bottle of Glue
• Activity Book
• Scissors
• Construction Paper
• Crayons
• Toy or a small Teddy Bear
• Tissues
• Toothpaste & Toothbrush
  
  Older Children receive Ring Binder, Compass and Protractor, Highlighters,
  colored pencils, and ruled index cards instead of some items above.
  
  We give the back packs to children age 4 to 18 years old that attend public schools. Children are identified by the agencies, schools and nonprofits we partner with.

We Really Need Your Help!

Go to our Donation page to use Paypal or a credit card.

Just $17 sponsors a grade school child, $19 a middle school child and $20 for a high school student

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We Apprciate our volunteers!

 Cheryl and Joyce at the toy drive for 

Bless the Kids

Christmas

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We had a great 2014 BTK Christmas - Shopped for toys and fun clothing for children in domestic violence and sexual abuse recovery. Because of your love, prayers and support 33 children received a gift bag of treasures topped off with a huggable stuffed animal!

 

There are many items that we could use to help the kids. Do you have small stuffed toys, sample size toiletries, or can you donate some coloring books? Click the red button below and check out our needs.

To Donate to Bless the Kids Back Pack project go to our donation page - Click HERE!

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In past years Yard Sale Fundraisers have helped us to bless over100 children with back packs!  Could you hold a yard sale for BTK? If so, contact us!!!

So many people are unable to provide needed supplies for their children to succeed in school. We really need your help to help them!



We love helping these amazing children - they are world changers in the making!!!

2015 is our 12th year!