‘Every dollar adds up’: For the first time in 33 years, KONY’s Coins for Kids experiencing shortage

Hundreds of volunteers came to share the Christmas spirit at the KONY Coins For Kids wrapping event at the Dixie Center, St. George, Utah, Dec 19, 2018 | File photo by Andrew Pinckney, St. George News.

ST. GEORGE — More than three decades ago, at what was then a small country music radio station, a tiny group of employees wanted to contribute to their community and spread some holiday spirit.

Hundreds of volunteers came to share the Christmas spirit at the KONY “Coins For Kids” wrapping event at the Dixie Center, St. George, Utah, Dec 19, 2018 | File photo by Andrew Pinckney, St. George News

So they started a coin drive and bought toys for a handful of Washington County families during Christmastime.

Since then, the KONY Country Coins for Kids program has grown into an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing toys and clothing to an average of 1,500 children each year, depending on economic circumstances.

One such circumstance they have never experienced is a shortage of funds and donations to buy gifts for every application they receive, President/CEO Carl Lamar said.

For the first time and with less than two weeks until their Dec. 12 shopping date, organizers face the prospect of not filling their wish lists. To meet the demands for this year’s applications, they are $70,000 short.

“It is quite scary to think about, but we have never crossed that bridge,” Lamar said. “Somehow the community has always stepped up so that no child in our program goes without a Christmas present to open. These are families helping families.”

While the organization may be short on funding this year, they have spent several million since the beginning, Lamar said. Over the decades he has been lucky to experience an “angel family” several times during his career as a radio personality. While all of the families needed help for the holiday season, there were certain families that were different.

“We had a lot of special experiences with what we called the angel families,” he said. “Sometimes we came across a family that we just knew we were meant to take care of. It felt as if we had been chosen to help them.”

Hundreds of volunteers tuned out to shop for KONY “Coins For Kids” at the Bloomington Walmart, St. George, Dec 19, 2018 | Photo by Andrew Pinckney, St. George News

KONY Country morning show host Amy Chesley agreed. When she started delivering toys for the organization many years ago, she knew there were families in the community that were struggling, but she was just not aware of the extent.

“I can’t explain it — it is just something you have to see for yourself,” she said. “The help that is needed in this community is growing. But you can see it in the smiles of the children. That is when you can see the difference this makes for their Christmas.”

Chesley suspects inflation may be the reason for a drop in donations and understands there are many more residents this year struggling to cover rent, utilities, groceries, etc. But she’s holding out hope for some last-minute generosity.

“Maybe there is a business out there that had a really great year and would like to sponsor some of our families,” she said. “I tell everyone, even if it’s one dollar, every dollar adds up.”

KONY Coins for Kids Chairman Brian Musso said he started compiling statistics in 2005. Since then, the program has provided gifts to 11,785 families, for a total of 31,656 kids in Southern Utah receiving Christmas gifts that might not have otherwise.

“I think we have had quite an impact on the community,” Musso said. “Serving 1,500 children each year, that’s equivalent to three elementary schools full of students or one of our large high schools.”

Over 100 Santas and dozens of helpers volunteered to deliver gifts for KONY Coins for Kids charity event, St. George, Utah, Dec. 20, 2018 | Photo by Andrew Pinckney, St. George News

Musso said there are several ways to donate. At the KONY Coins for Kids website, donations can be made using a credit/debit card, Venmo, Amazon or PayPal. For those looking to get out of the house and volunteer, there are many of those positions still open as well.

Shopping

Monday, Dec 12, 2022 – Begins at 5 p.m. at the Wal-Mart in Washington. Hundreds of shoppers needed, no registration necessary. Just show up, get a clipboard and shop for one or multiple families.

Gift wrapping

Tuesday, Dec. 13 – Begins at 8 a.m. at the Dixie Center, on Convention Center Drive. All “wrappers” are asked to bring a roll or two of wrapping paper, not required. Scissors and tape provided. Donations of tape, scissors, clipboards, name tags, ribbons, etc. are appreciated. There is no need to sign up or register to wrap, just show up.

Delivery

Wednesday, Dec. 14– Begins at 4 p.m. at the Dixie Center. Santa and his helpers are always needed. Please bring a suit if you have one, limited suits available if not. Santa suits require a small refundable deposit. Additional helpers with vans or trucks are always needed. To participate as a Santa, or to help distribute toys, registration is required on the website.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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