Do a Little Something for the Kids

How You Can Make a Difference

When I was in college (meaning when I was younger, stupider, and generally drunk all the time), the group of friends I ran around with had a one-liner we used all the time that we thought was just hilarious.  Whenever we were leaving the group or generally just going somewhere and didn't want to mess with telling the others where we were going, or some times to just be a general butt and leave folks hanging as we left a party or something of the sort, we would tell everyone we were "going to do something for the kids".  Like I said, we were young, stupid, and usually drunk.  It eventually turned into a euphimism for when we were going to the bathroom, and of course led to discussions of how much we just did for the kids or (especially after particularly eventful parties) how we were going to be helping out the kids all day long.  Of course it eventually became what we told anyone any time we were asked where we were going and just generally became our standard answer to almost any question, even if it didn't make any sense.  Like I said, we thought it was hilarious.  And again, I readily admit we were stupid.

Looking back at that, I find my career choice awefully ironic.  Once I finally sobered up and got my head on straight, I went into social work, and eventually counseling.  I've been out of undergrad for 11 years now.  It really is funny that, with a brief 16 month exception of working for the government, I've spent my entire career working with kids.

What is not so funny is what I have seen over those 11 years.  What is even worse is how I am no longer surprised at what adults, and especially parents, can do to children.  What really gets me is the fact that it still happens.  A lot. 

So I have dedicated roughly 10 years of my life to helping those kids.  I very much realize and understand that not everyone is capable of doing what I do.  I even more understand that not many folks have any desire to do what I do.  No sugar coating here.  It is depressing.  Horribly so some times. 

But, there are ways to help.  Despite the fact that 99% of the people in our society recognize that there are millions of children in our country alone that need help, federal and state funding comes nowhere close to covering the cost of helping these kids.  At the agency I run, our budget for the fiscal year that is about to end was just shy of $2,000,000.  The kids we work with are all in the custody of the state of Kentucky and we are paid by the state for caring for and working with these children.  But, what we have received from the state thus far this year only covers about 85% of our costs.  That leaves us with a defecit of roughly $300,000 for this year alone. 

So where does that $300,000 come from.  Well that is where those of you out there that want to make a difference come in.  Last year we received just shy of $300,000 in donations from individuals and churches.  With that money, we were able to help 9 kids we would not have been able to help without those donations.  With that money, every single kid that was with us had the best Christmas they had ever had (and that is a quote from every one of them).  With that money, our kids were able to have a hot meal three times a day (once again something most of them had never experienced).  With that money, these kids had a bed to sleep on, someone to watch over them, someone to counsel them, someone to take them to church, someone to pat them on the back and say good job.  The little things most of us take for granted that they had never, or rarely, experienced. And you have the opportunity to be a part of that.

So what exactly can you do?  Make a donation.  Volunteer your time.  You don't even have to work directly with the kids, if that scares you (and it very much does scare some people.  Help with a project.  If you want to help the organization I work for, great!  I'm not going to discourage that in any way.  Check out our website at www.npfc.net.  There is info there on contacting me as well as a way to donate through Paypal.  But, I would also encourage you to look locally for a place to support.  91% of our donations come from local individuals and churches.  Local support is key for us, and any organization similar to ours.  Do a google search, or just ask around.  You'd be surprised at the number of agencies near you that are dying off due to lack of support.

So go do a little something for the kids.  It is one way you can make a difference.