KCKidsFun

You long-time readers know by now that there are two organizations which are especially near and dear to our hearts–Children’s Therapeutic Learning Center (CTLC) and Asthma & Allergy Foundation, Greater Kansas City chapter (AAFA).

Both help Kansas Citians–from all walks of life–in extraordinary ways.  I wanted to let you all know what AAFA has been up to and provide some contact information in case you or someone you know needs some help!  AAFA recently hosted its annual SuperKids Asthma Camp, and it was bigger and better than ever.  The day camp is for kids, diagnosed with asthma and allergies, entering 2nd through 7th grades, and it lasts one week.  In addition to being tons of fun for the kids, they are in a medically supervised environment and leave the camp feeling empowered and educated about how to take charge of their health.  The SuperKids spent some time at Kaufmann Stadium and also with Brett Anthony, meteorologist on NBC Action News.

AAFA’s yearly fundraiser is fast approaching!  Saturday, October 17, 2009, the Overland Park Sheraton will be transformed into “A Night in Monte Carlo”–featuring dinner, a lively casino party and an auction.  Tickets are still available!  Call Executive Director, Melissa Ford, at 816.333.6608 for details.

Looking forward, in March 2010, AAFA hosts its annual Family Asthma & Allergy Education Day. This is a fabulous interactive opportunity for local families and individuals alike to learn more about asthma and allergies.  This is the 15th year for the program…so you know it’s good!

We are proud to be one of  AAFA’s community partners and encourage you to check them out–and even volunteer!

Here in our school district, school starts next week! I’m not exactly sure where the summer went. But we’ve got to rally and get into back-to-school mode around here. Earlier bedtimes, stricter schedules, homework, backpacks and school supplies.

We bought our school supplies through the school PTA this year but many families are trekking to Target, WalMart, USToy and the Dime Store this week to gather their pencils, markers, notebooks and lunch boxes. Other families won’t have that luxury. But we can help.

This year, SAFEHOME (an amazing service provider for families affected by domestic violence) anticipates providing hundreds of children with school supplies during SAFEHOME’s annual back-to-school shopping night. Their shelves are pretty bare. Donations or gift cards to purchase school supplies are greatly appreciated.

If you are interested in donating any of the items on today’s Immediate Needs List, please contact SAFEHOME’s Administration Line at 913-432-9300 to schedule a time to drop off your donation. Gift cards and gift card receipts can be mailed to SAFEHOME, P.O. Box 4563, Overland Park, KS, 66204.

Here’s what they need ASAP:

Crayola Crayons (16 & 24 count)
Assorted Colored Pencils
Felt Tip Markers (water soluble)
Dry Erase Markers
Sharpies
Elmer’s or Ross Glue (8oz. & 12 oz. bottles)
Glue Sticks
Erasers
No. 2 Pencils
Pencil Boxes
Ball-point Pens (blue or black ink)
Scissors
Rulers
Protractors
Kleenex
Crayola or Prang Water Colors (Oval 8)
Wide-line Spiral Notebook
Loose Leaf Notebook Paper (3 hole punched)
Pocket Folders
Note Cards
Note Cards Dividers
Hand Sanitizer
Baby Wipes (Non-alcohol)
Back Packs
New Tennis Shoes (All sizes for Boys and Girls)
Graphing Calculators
Paint Shirts

If you are interested in helping SAFEHOME’s kids in other ways, please take a look at their Amazon WishList for items needed for their children’s center. Another fantastic Kansas City community resource with an Amazon WishList is Children’s TLC (find their WishList here).

Buy something for SAFEHOME or Children’s TLC from the WishLists and your hand-picked donation will be shipped directly to those organizations and put into immediate use for the kids. It couldn’t be any easier!

So, this back-to-school season, take care of your kids and then help out a few more while you’re at it!

We’re getting ready to wrap up our inaugural Wish List Donation Drive here at KC Kids Fun. And we wanted to take this opportunity to THANK YOU!

Thanks to our readers the kids at CTLC received books, dolls, puzzles, craft items and even a mini trampoline from the teachers’ wish list! You guys are awesome.

Before we put this project to bed for a while, we thought we’d give you all one last opportunity to pick out something special to send to the special needs kids at the Children’s Therapeutic Learning Center in Kansas City. The folks there really do fantastic work and can use all the help the community is willing to give.

So, check out the Wish List one last time and pick something great! You can choose something large, something small, just one item or many. Pay for it through Amazon and it will ship directly to the kids and teachers at CTLC. (And it’s tax-deductible because CTLC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit agency.)

One last time: the Wish List is Here – Click Here to Help!