While the winter months usually means it is a bit quieter around the office, often with a lag in work load, Kars4Kids has been busier than ever, using the holiday season as a prime opportunity to further our mission of aiding children in need.
Spreading holiday cheer to children and families has always been a part of Kars4Kids’ mission. Putting smiles on the faces of those wishing to take part in the holidays is one of the biggest motivations for all that we do, making the holiday season memorable for us all.
We recently sent out thousands of holiday packages to children and families nationwide. The packages contained festive decorations for their holiday tables and their homes, personalized mugs with hot cocoa and marshmallows perfect for those chilly winter nights, along with fun prizes and toys. Just thinking about the bright smile on the children’s faces when they see the specialized package waiting for them on their doorstep was all the motivation we needed to face the thousands of boxes waiting to be packed with holiday cheer.
To help us with the packing, we invited some local schools to take part in this inspiring opportunity. Both middle school and high school age, the children eagerly did their part placing an item in the box, knowing their hard work would mean one more child, like them, would happily be celebrating the holidays.
Sending out holiday packages is not all that we do during the winter months. Just this past weekend, we had a girls retreat in our summer camp in upstate New York, TheZone. With the sprawling campus and breathtaking mountain views, the girls, along with their Kars4Kids mentors, were eager to take part in all the festivities and activities during the weekend. From Friday through Sunday, the girls participated in delicious and warming meals, along with fun and exciting activities like indoor swimming, laser tag, and snow tubing. the hundreds of girls reminisced together as they sang camp songs, danced, and played an endless amount of games.
With scheduled one-on-one time with their mentors along with group mentoring, the girls were able to connect with friends from camp and from their local ChillZone after school program. Having the opportunity to befriend girls they would not have a chance to meet otherwise made the weekend extra special for many of the girls. The pure joy and excitement was felt by every single attendee, making the entire weekend a smashing success and leaving the girls already counting down until the next retreat.
Giving the children and teens specialized holiday packages and weekend retreats are uplifting for all, affording them an opportunity to celebrate the holidays with the added bonus of boosting morale. However, we feel it is important for the youth to have a steady dose of mentorship and support, which is why we have ChillZone, our weekly after school program. With over 40 locations nationwide, mentors connect with groups of boys and girls, spending one-on-one time along with facilitating group activities. With fun and interesting prizes, delicious pizza, and the opportunity to form friendships with fellow attendees and mentors, every child feels loved and welcomed. Children today can often feel judged, bullied, or just uncomfortable in their own skin. ChillZone offers a safe, judgement free zone for youths of all shapes and sizes to feel welcomed exactly for who they are.
Helping children across the U.S. has always been Kars4Kids mission, and during the holiday season it is even more important to spread love and kindness to all. Join us in our mission by putting a smile on a child’s face this holiday season!
