‘Kits for Kids’ assists 965 homeless students

The Presbyterian Women’s group of First Presbyterian Church and local partners distributed 955 hygiene bags to homeless students in Deschutes County.

Through the generous efforts of hundreds of community members and several local partners these bags will be distributed throughout the school-year to homeless children by the Family Access Network advocates and school district homeless liaisons.

Community partners that contributed to this effort include: First United Methodist of Bend, a Bend RotaryClub,Quota Club of Central Oregon, Abby’s Pizza, Applebee’s, Panda Express, Boys Scout Troop 25, Touchmark atMt. Bachelor, and many other generous community supporters. First Presbyterian was also given a KTVZ PAY IT FORWARD award for $500 that went to the Kits for Kids project.

Last school year there were over 1,232 students identified as homeless within the Deschutes County schools. Local families are not able to purchase hygiene products with food stamps and are often forced to choose between buying food and basic items such as soap with their limited income. The Kits for Kids project was designed to support families in a concrete way and take a little of the burden off their struggles through homelessness.

The Kits for Kids include laundry soap, toilet paper, paper towels, bar soap, shampoo, tooth brushes, tooth paste, deodorant, and dish soap.

“Kits for Kids is a direct, practical way for members of this countyto help children in need in our schools. By supplying them these very basic hygiene items, they know they are part of a community that cares about them.” said Marilyn Feis and Sandra Croney, Kits for Kids Committee Co-Chairs.

It is within the mission of the Presbyterian Women’s group of First Presbyterian Church to support those in need within Central Oregon and throughout the world. The Presbyterian Women’s group strives to make a difference in the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of children in our community and around the world.

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To learn more about the Kits for Kids project contact Sandra Croney, arktos@bendbroadband.com.

To learn more about Family Access Network,

visit www.familyaccessnetwork.orgor call 541-693-5675.

The Family Access Network is committed to building a healthy community

by alleviating the suffering of children in need. During the 2013-14 school year,

FAN advocates have improved the lives of more than 10,000 people in our community.