Kids To Love Foundation

Programs: Our christmas for the kids program fulfilled christmas wishes for 1,254 foster children across 25 counties in alabama and tennessee, and at the request of a social worker we included children in one county in mississippi. Bridge street towne center also donated a storefront as in previous years, allowing us to collect new toys and clothes for foster children. The location also serves as a fundraiser where volunteers wrap gifts for the general public.

kids to love's annual school supply drive expanded to include foster children in parts of georgia and mississippi. Our "more than a backpack" program served 5,148 foster children across four states.

ktech, a workforce training initiative of kids to love, premiered in 2016. Ktech trains students in skill set called mechatronics, which is a key trade in the advanced manufacturing industry. Through tutoring, mentoring, soft skills and leadership training, all 13 students enrolled in ktech graduated and each student also earned their siemens certification.

finding forever families: kids to love continued our commitment to find adoptive families for children in foster care. We shared 25 stories of children waiting to be adopted, using social media components as well as our website. Kids to love also continued our partnership with apac (alabama post adoption connections) by hosting 20 adoption parent training classes at the kids to love center. We received 152 requests for information about adoption/ foster care. College scholarships: kids to love awarded 48 new scholarships at our annual scholarship luncheon. See meth stop meth: the see meth stop meth tip line received and reported to law enforcement 428 tips of suspected drug activity. Children were believed to be present in 208 cases, so those were reported to the department of human resources. Tips of suspected meth activity came in to us from 28 states. Bible program: kids to love provided bibles to every child who received school supplies. Bibles were included in all backpacks we distributed. Wardrobe warehouse: kids to love opened our wardrobe warehouse to meet the immediate needs outside of our seasonal programs. When a foster family received a child into their care, they come to the kids to love center for clothing and other necessities. In 2016, the wardrobe warehouse served 39 children and 12 families. Camp hope alabama: camp hope alabama reunites siblings who live in separate foster homes. Siblings are invited to spend the weekend together in camp-style atmosphere where they bond through recreation activities. In 2016 camp hope served 110 children/ families. Community conversation on poverty: kids to love launched a roundtable discussion on the impact of poverty in our community. We invited other non-profit organizations who serve people affected by poverty to discuss ways to work together. The community conversation on poverty will be an on-going roundtable event to continually address this need.