New day, new goal

Good news on the Kits for Kids Campaign front--thanks to Angie Akers, our relentless negotiator with the school supply companies, it looks like we will be able to get all of our kits for $5.50. This is a huge difference from the kits quoted at $6 and $6.46, and as you can imagine saves us an average of $.75 per student--and at 17,491 students, that's a big chunk of change. The only catch is that we have to order the supplies in bulk, not in prepackaged kits. It won't be as convenient for distribution, but when it comes down to it, we're able to buy more supplies and serve more kids by buying in bulk, and that's really what it's all about.

This change has been reflected in the thermometer on the right side of the page. Our goal is still to serve 17,491 K-12 graders. But with supplies at only $5.50 per person, that goal just got a little cheaper at $96,201 total.

Between the efforts of Maureen Kranbuhl at the Oxford United Way and me, we have $4,784 raised so far, with thousands of dollars in grants still out there, waiting to be approved or denied. While we wait, I've taken to sending letters to all of the churches in the county asking for help. I designed a flyer and wrote a bulletin insert to include, as well. If you attend church in Butler County, be on the lookout for our request and help us out!

And remember, if you want to contribute to the Kits for Kids Campaign, please make checks payable to Kits for Kids and mail your tax-deductible donation to:

Kits for Kids Campaign
P.O. Box 421545
Middletown, OH 45042-1545

Your contribution of $5.50 sponsors one child with the school supplies he or she needs to successfully start the 2010-2011 school year. All donations will be distributed among the 10 public school districts according to the need in each district, unless otherwise specified.