ST. GEORGE — Operations are in full swing to bring Christmas to youngsters in need all across Washington County through the KONY Coins for Kids program, a campaign that has brought holiday joy to thousand of children across Southern Utah for more than three decades. The program is now accepting online applications for families in need.
KONY’s Coins for Kids began more than three decades ago when the founders came across more and more Southern Utah families who struggle financially.
The same holds true today, as many families are financially strapped, and there is little, if anything left to spend on the holidays, Coins for Kids board member Carl Lamar said. Lamar has been with the charity since its inception 33 years ago.
All donated funds are used to purchase, wrap and deliver gifts to children in need.
None of the money that is raised throughout Southern Utah are used for administrative costs, and every Coins for Kids board member and coordinator is a volunteer.
Applications will be accepted starting Oct. 15, and the last day to apply to qualify for Coins for Kids, or any of the organization’s community partners, is Nov. 15. Coins for Kids officials will verify each application to ensure the family hasn’t received gifts for three years or more over the last 10 years.
Once applications are processed, eligible applicants will be required to provide a photo ID and proof of residency in Washington County, a birth certificate for each child or court documents recognizing someone outside of the child’s parents have custody, and a letter from a referring organization.
The documents must be verified in person at the Washington County School District building on 121 W. Tabernacle St. in St. George, and processing will take place until 7 p.m. on the following three days – Nov. 14, 16 and 18.
Following the application process, qualified families will be contacted so Coins for Kids can obtain toy requests and clothes sizes from the parents or guardians. This information is put into a system where Coins for Kids, Shop with a Cop or an “adoptive” family will be assigned to each family; organizations won’t be assigned until after the application center has accepted its final application.
Families that are in need of assistance that do not qualify for the Coins for Kids program can submit an application to one of the organization’s community partners, including the Toys for Tots Program. – which has provided thousands of toys for local youth across Southern Utah for decades.
The Toys for Tots program was officially adopted by the Marine Corps in 1948. Since that time, more than 452 million toys have been distributed to more than 209 million needy children, and 97% of all items and proceeds are distributed directly to the community.
The local chapter is run by the Marines of the local Marine Corps League Detachment 1270, along with an army of volunteers that collect the toys/gifts and then warehouses the items to be processed and prepared for delivery.
While Marine Corps Reserve coordinators organize, coordinate and manage the Toys for Tots campaign, the drive’s ultimate success depends on the support of the local community and the generosity of the people who donate toys, according to the program’s website. All monetary donations submitted via the secure website for the Washington County area stay in the area. These funds are utilized to purchase toys where needed.
Marines looking for a few good square feet
This year, Toys for Tots program is in need of a few good square feet – 5,000 be exact, to house and process the mountain of toys and other items, said Pam Curtis, Southern Utah Area Coordinator for Toys For Tots. The space would be needed for approximately three months.
Anyone who can donate the much needed space would be eligible for a tax deferment on their property for the time needed, in addition to the satisfaction of bringing joy to thousands of children across Southern Utah Christmas morning. Curtis can be reached at 435-272-5051.
A few good volunteers
An army of volunteers make the campaign possible, and anyone interested in helping with the shopping, sorting, wrapping and delivery, as well as those interested in donating money or toys can find more information on the KONY Coins for Kids website.
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