Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.) is a non-profit organization that donates children's clothes, toys, books and juvenile product to children both in the U.S. and abroad. We give to children in poverty, in crisis situations such as illness or abuse, and those who are struck by unforeseen disasters.
We were established by the children's apparel and product industry in 1985 to help children in Ethiopia. Since then we have donated half a billion dollars worth of children's product like clothes, footwear, toys, books and juvenile product all over the US and the world each year.
Our group of employees, board members, and product donor companies give us the ability to keep our overhead low (less than 3%) and all product donations going to children in need. It is the collective strength and generosity of our exemplary industry professionals that keep our organization rising to new heights, and propelling our ability to reach so many children in need.
In some states we reach many of their poorest population - children who without our extensive programs in their state would not have new clothes, shoes, books, toys or supplies for school, and as one local agency told us, "would go without".
With our efficient, well-organized and long term relationships with shipping and children's product contacts, we can provide donated product at no cost to the agency, children or their families and in a financially sound way that appeals to many donors.
The differences between our methods and that of a other non-profits distributing clothing to children in poverty are:
1)Our organization donates only NEW clothes, shoes, books and toys - there are no hand-me-downs, or used clothing, books, or toys. This is incredible for a child's sense of self-esteem, especially a child who is battling poverty at the same time as dealing with peer pressure.
2)Our numbers are the most incredible testament to our success. We have reached over 40 million children in our organization's history, and donated over $500 million worth of clothes, shoes, children's products, toys, school supplies and books to children in the US and abroad.
3)We donate mainly to the children of the United States. 85% of our donations go to children living in poverty in the US, 15% go to children abroad.
4)We are built on our flexibility. Our organization goes back and forth easily and quickly from giving to local agencies who have long-term relationships with us, to giving products quickly and efficiently to communities new to us who are in crisis and disaster situations here and abroad.
Our capacity-building programs for at-risk youth (0-18 yrs) and their families address poverty, literacy, domestic violence, homelessness, child safety, illness, incarceration, disaster relief, and youth development. All disaster relief efforts are coordinated with local, state and federal agencies, and national disaster relief networks. Examples of recipient agencies augmented or supported by K.I.D.S. are homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, food banks, hospitals, community centers, prisoner rehabilitation centers, HIV/AIDS clinics, Indian reservations, school systems, day cares, youth clubs, foster homes and faith-based organizations.
