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Click here to read our Winter Newsletter.


  • The 109th annual American International Toy Fair takes place February 12-15th in New York at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
    This is the largest toy and youth marketplace in the Western Hemisphere. The Toy Fair brings together more than 1100 exhibiting manufacturers and distributors to showcase their toy and entertainment products. In cooperation with the Toy Industry Foundation (T.I.F.) and with the help of some 100 volunteers, K.I.D.S. collects more than $500,000 worth of toys and educational games every year at the February Show.

  • Happy New Year!

    As we start off 2012, we want to take this opportunity to thank all of our product and financial donors for your generous support in 2011. Thanks to you, we were able to provide millions of kids in need with new clothing, shoes, toys, books, baby supplies and more.

    Wishing all of you a year filled health, happiness and joy!

  • Focus on K.I.D.S. Newsletter

    Click here to read K.I.D.S.' winter newsletter

  • K.I.D.S. is recognized by leading organizations for its commitment to, and success in, helping children and families in need.

    • The Chronicle of Philanthropy ranked K.I.D.S. among the top 2% of all not-for-profits, in its annual “Philanthropy 400” list for 2011.
    • Forbes Magazine has consistently identified K.I.D.S. as one of “America’s Most Efficient Charities” in its annual listing of America’s 200 largest charities.
    • Charity Navigator, the largest charity evaluator in the country, has awarded K.I.D.S. their highest four star rating five years in a row.
    • The National Better Business Bureau has also awarded K.I.D.S. their highest rating five years in a row.

Mission Statement

Kids in Distressed Situations’ (K.I.D.S.) mission is to provide NEW clothing, toys, shoes, baby products, books and more to children and families challenged by poverty, homelessness, domestic abuse, low literacy, military family service, major illness, incarcerated family members, and disaster survival. Over the past 26 years, K.I.D.S. has provided more than 67 million underprivileged and disaster-struck children with over one billion dollars of merchandise, giving these children, and often their entire families, hope and self-esteem through a gift of something BRAND NEW.

Click here to learn more about our 2011 accomplishments

K.I.D.S.’ donations are distributed through a network of nearly 1,000 local community social service agencies. With overhead costs consistently at 2.5%, K.I.D.S. is one of America’s most efficient charities and has earned Charity Navigator’s highest rating of four stars.

Agency Quote

We received a thank you from Cranio Care Bears, one of our agencies in Mead Colorado. The note was from a family that just underwent a second craniosynostosis surgery for their 3 year old son Nathan.
This is what she had to say:
"Walking the halls in his cool new Slingshot shoes from STRIDE RITE. We put them on and he said "now I run fast!" I got him to the door where he tried to take off still attached to his IV pole. Oops. He was very excited to wear his new shoes. Thanks Cranio Care Bears, K.I.D.S. & STRIDE RITE!"”

Summer Ehmann, Cranio Care Bears
Mead, Colorado

K.I.D.S Launches a National Grass Roots Campaign

Throughout its history, K.I.D.S. has partnered with social service agencies across the country to distribute the new product that it receives as donations from manufacturers and retailers. In 2011, K.I.D.S. increased the list of "active" agencies with which it collaborates to ensure that merchandise is directed as broadly as possible to those in need.

Building on the foundation is has laid in every state of the country, in 2012, K.I.D.S. will establish an overall national campaign to solicit product, raise money and increase awareness that connects the dots between local and national activities. The major components of the national campaign include:

  • A national "Clothes for K.I.D.S." Drive throughout the country culminating in a national event;
  • Linking product donors with the five regional distribution centers in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Milwaukee, New York and Philadelphia to make the giving process more tangible;
  • Running local fundraisers in communities where K.I.D.S. has a presence;
  • Managing multiple forms of bottom up, top down communications among all K.I.D.S. stakeholders (e.g., product donors, cash contributors, agencies, local groups); and
  • Establishing real-time communication and interactivity.

Click here to read more.

Agency Spotlight

Help Us Save Young Lives!

On Saturday, February 11 from 12 to 3 p.m. one of our super agencies, Caring For Others in Atlanta Georgia, will host a Child Safety Event. In partnership with Graco and K.I.D.S. they will distribute children's booster seats and strollers. Atlanta safety authorities will give parents the true facts on simple and effective child safety.

SAVE A LIFE TODAY...maybe the life of a future president, dentist, architect, teacher or poet? We never know what a child will grow up to be in life. But we do know we can ensure they grow up safely and well.

In days gone by, children were placed on car seats or held in their mothers' arms: accidents could kill. Today, seatbelts, car seats and booster seats are vital in saving children's lives.

This Month’s Top Donors

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