Kids First – Island County
Building Partnerships and Opportunities for Children in Foster Care
The charity for this year’s SWYC support of a local non-profit is Kids First – Island County. You will be able to learn about Kids First at this year’s Holiday Party December 13 at the Greenback Progressive Club or on the SWYC website. Kathy McLean and Gwendine Norton will be speaking about Kids First, the children and families it supports and the good works done locally here in Island County and on Whidbey Island.
Founded in 2009, Kids First is dedicated to meeting the unfulfilled educational, vocational and recreational needs of children who are in foster care by building partnerships that link children with opportunities in Island County and San Juan County. Kids First serves all Island and San Juan County children who are in the care of foster parents, relative caregivers, or in group homes, regardless of the county or state that child is placed in. We also serve all children who are placed with Island or San Juan County foster and relative parents regardless of the child’s county or state of origin.
Some of the invaluable opportunities that Kids First can help with are:
- Back-To-School Clothing and Shoes
- Backpacks and School Supplies
- Sports Fees and Equipment
- Gymnastics, Swimming, and Music Lessons
- Bicycles, Basketball Hoops, Outdoor Swings
- Summer Camp Fees
- Prom Attire and Hairstyling
- Senior Photos and Graduation Events
- Specialized Vision or Hearing Aids
- And Many, Many Others!
How it works:
When a child has a need or a hope to participate in an educational, vocational, or recreational opportunity, and child welfare funds run short, the child’s parents (birth, foster or relative), social worker or Volunteer Guardian Ad Litem (VGAL) submits a request for Kids First support.
The Kids First team collaborates with community partners (individuals, parents & extended families, social workers, schools, merchants, public and private organizations, civic groups, faith communities) to pool resources. Partnerships are built and children are linked with opportunity!
Here are some examples of community organizations that Kids First has partnered with to fill needs:
First Book Marketplace – Story and activity books each holiday season for all foster children.
Treehouse for Kids – Tutoring for school age children
Whidbey DIYers – Cloth masks for children
Simmons Towing – assembly and delivery of new bicycles
Please consider making a donation to:
KidsFirst Island County
PO Box 581, Clinton WA 98236
