Approximately 43% of the Kennedale ISD student population is classified as underprivileged. For some of these children, the only meal they receive all day is via the free/reduced lunch program at the school. Additionally, these children need items such as school uniforms and cold weather attire such as coats, gloves, hats and scarves. Over the last several years this project has become an expansion of the Angel Tree Project in Kennedale which provides toys and other items for citizens in need.
The Kennedale Rotary Club purchases items such as coats and other cold weather attire, school uniforms, throws, and toiletry items from local merchants The stores partner with the club by offering discounted prices.
Club members then distribute the coats and other items to the Angel Tree Project coordinator and work with the event to greet and serve participants at the community wide fundraising event. Twenty Kennedale Rotarians participated in this project.
Approximately 250 non-Rotarians benefit from this project. Over 200 children will have cold-weather clothing for home and school use, as well as school uniforms. The Kennedale Senior community is also provided blankets and toiletry items for the nursing home residents.
This project is truly a community effort. Not only does the Kennedale Rotary Club support this effort by providing the aforementioned resources and community support to help meet the needs of the Angels and seniors, but the Kennedale Fire Department plays an enormous role in facilitating the Angel Tree designations and deliveries through the local schools. Other community organization including the Kennedale Chamber of Commerce and the Kennedale Independent School District also provide support to this project by gathering in-kind items and raising cash donations, and volunteers just to name a few. This project would not be possible without the collaborative effort of all these organizations doing their part.
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