Imagine as a child you longed to be part of the baseball team but your family couldn’t afford a glove or cleats for you to play. What would it feel like as a student to try to keep up in school but words and letters are too fuzzy to read. What if you dreaded long weekends because you knew there wouldn’t be enough food at home to eat. For many children across the Ozarks, they don’t have to imagine.
Fortunately, thanks to the generosity of area donors, there’s a resource available to meet the needs of Stone and Taney County children – that program is Care For Kids. Over the past 18 school years, Silver Dollar City Foundation has provided more than $2.3 million to area districts through the Care For Kids program. During the 2023-2024 school year, that funding resulted in more than 5,100 instances of impact across the 14 public school districts that receive Care For Kids dollars.
“That’s more than 5,100 times needs were met for area students through Care For Kids,” said Silver Dollar City Foundation Executive Director Mindy Honey. “The needs that we met ranged from as simple as new shoes to much more complex issues such as helping a father with necessary home repairs so he could be reunited with his children.”
“The Care For Kids program is, in a word, hope,” said Kirbyville Associate Superintendent Leanne West. “The generous funding provided by the Silver Dollar City Foundation allows school districts to see and meet needs in an efficient and personal manner.”
At the start of each school year, Silver Dollar City Foundation provides area districts with Care For Kids funding based on the number of students enrolled in the free or reduced lunch program; however, it’s up to educators to decide how to use the funds. When teachers or staff identify a need, the district has immediate access to funding, which means educators can often meet needs the same day.
“With the support from Care For Kids, when we see a student has a need, we can meet that need,” said Branson School District Social Worker Sherri Paydon.
“When immediate needs are met, our students can focus on their education with confidence and security."
Care For Kids is made possible by generous donations from Silver Dollar City, White Water, Showboat Branson Belle, Woodland Hills Family Church in Branson and others. Paydon said she appreciates how the funding allows districts to meet physical needs quickly, but also empowers districts to work through more complex issues.
“Many of the families we work with have specific crises or circumstances that sometimes interfere in being able to provide a stable environment, such as mental health needs in a family, serious medical issues, financial instability or the death of a parent,” said Paydon. “Students need routine, stability and hope. With the help from Care For Kids, we are able to provide stability by addressing students’ physical needs, which in turn helps students emotionally while they are in school.”
“Because of this partnership, families that are supported by the Care For Kids funding feel the hope of having needs met, and the school faculty feel the hope that comes from being able to meet a need,” West said.
During the 2023-2024 school year, through Care For Kids: 1,090 students were provided clothing, shoes or coats; 380 vision, medical or dental needs were met; 679 students were impacted when the cost of activities were funded; 479 students were impacted when their families received assistance with housing or transportation; 1,533 students received assistance with school supplies; and 663 students were fed through meal programs and food assistance.
In addition to Care For Kids, Silver Dollar City Foundation provides Hope Grants to the same 14 school districts serving Stone and Taney County children. Through the Hope Grant, districts are able to address priorities impacting their district, such as increasing access to preschool, expanding Parents As Teachers, or creating programs to increase community and parental engagement.
Visit SilverDollarCityFoundation.org to learn more.
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