Kids Care Clubs -- Change For Kids in Asia

In times of disaster and emergencies, organizations need cash to help them carry out their relief efforts. Kids Care Clubs prefers hands on projects to collecting money for organizations but it is not possible, practical or cost effective to send and distribute material goods in Myanmar or China.

Kids see images of children suffering and want to respond. Clubs have been very effective at fund raising for disasters such as 911, the 2004 Southeast Asia Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina . Below are several ideas how your kids can raise money to help kids affected by Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar and the earthquake in central China.

Kids Care Clubs Spare Change for Kids in Asia

Raising funds by collecting coins or loose change is simple and fast. For example, in response to the tsunami in Southeast Asia, The Pines Lake School KCC (Wayne, NJ) collected $4729.72 for Habitat for Humanity, International. They collected the money in milk cartons decorated to look like houses reminding others that the money would help rebuild homes. When the students donated, their names went on paper bricks to construct a house near the school’s main entrance. "Third grader Miranda Diaz explained why students helped so much. "The waves wrecked everything that they owned," she said. "They don't have homes, so we wanted to help them have homes just like us."

The Grinnell School Kids Care Club (Derry, NH) collected for the tsunami relief by using a huge water jug for their change, checks and bills. The water jug was a reminder that major relief efforts included purifying drinking water.

The Colonial Road KCC (Franklin Lakes, NJ) held a Pajama Party. The kids were asked to come to school with their pajamas on -- the clothes on their backs – simulating the fact that the tsunami survivors have only (if that) the clothes they were wearing. Each child had the opportunity to purchase a “Pillow Cut Out” that they could decorate for $5. The pillows were displayed in the school's hallways. There was a big chart showing how much has been collected with information about how much $1, $5, etc. can help. The Club will also held a Read-a-Thon and a Walk-a-Thon.

Materials Needed:

Containers, cans, milk cartons for coin collection
Posters, Markers

Steps Involved:

1. Decide how your club will collect the coins: at home, at school or through containers placed at local stores in town.
2. Decide the agency you will donate to: See Kids Care for Kids in Asia Caring Partners.
3. If you decide to place containers in school classrooms, members of your club should make a brief presentation about the project when they drop off the container. Include the latest facts about the disasters, a sentence or two about the country and a sentence or two about the agency who will receive your funds.
4. Make flyers, posters and decorate the containers so people will understand who you are collecting for. List all information: why your club is collecting, where the containers will be located and the dates you will be collecting the change.
5. Collect the change, count it, roll it up for the bank or take to a store that has a change machine.
6. Take pictures of your club working on the project. Submit to a local newspaper and complete a Kids Care Club Response Card.

Kids Care Clubs Sales For Kids in Asia

There are several types of sales your club can have, a lemonade stand in your neighborhood or at school sporting events, a flower sale for participants in a school concert or play, a bake sale or a craft sale. A tag sale is more labor intensives and requires lots of “hands” which is good because children of all ages can have a job to do.

Kids Care Clubs Tag Sale

Kids love to participate in tag sales. They can collect the items, advertise the sale, set up the sale, price the items and collect the money. They will take pride knowing that they are helping children in Asia obtain food, water, medicine and housing.

Materials Needed:

Posters and flyers to advertise the sale
Items to sell: Used sporting equipment, toys, stuffed animals, books, videos, CD's, audio tapes are a great start.
Several tables to display items
A cash box (a cardboard box is OK) with some change and small bills to start the sale,
A calculator and pens, pencils and paper
Plastic bags for people to carry their purchases

1. Steps Involved:
   Decide which agency will receive your funds.
2. Choose a date and a location. Ask a school, community center or church if you could use their gym or all-purpose room.
3. Decide where people can drop items off before the sale.
   Advertise in your school newspaper and in town - state the receiving organization.
4. Make posters; list the items you want to collect. Try not to accept junk because you will have to haul it away.
   Plan ahead of time where to donate items that do not sell. Try a thrift shop, a consignment shop, the Salvation Army or Goodwill. If the item is dirty or in bad shape; throw it away.
5. Organize the kids for the day of the sale. Price all items ahead of time. Set up shifts or stations for the kids to work. Some might collect money, others will help customers carry items or find items. Don't forget a clean up crew.
6. Sell refreshments - ask a local store to donate drinks, ask families to donate baked good.
7. Take pictures of your club in action.
8. Count the money and write a letter to the organization from your club.
9. Don’t forget to thank all who helped!
10. Submit a Kids Care Club Response Card.