Kids are their purpose

Kids Purpose Project’s goal — to help kids be kids.

For the group of women and mothers in the community, fulfilling the needs of suffering children in Jay County is the priority. The nonprofit started in 2021 contributes wherever there is a deficiency. Whether it’s collecting and donating toiletries, winter clothing or school supplies, or offering services at a community event, Kids Purpose Project is on the job.

“(We help) pretty much wherever we see kids that have a need,” said Teresa Taylor, a member of the group’s board of directors.

Purpose

Holly Johnson, who co-owns Moo Juice Express in Berne with her husband Brady Johnson, remembers when her nephews, now 4-year-old Simon Chenoweth and 3-year-old Abel Chenoweth, were diagnosed in 2019 and 2020 with cystic fibrosis.

“It was terrifying for our family,” she said.

Symptoms of cystic fibrosis include persistent coughing, frequent lung infections, wheezing or shortness of breath, poor growth or weight gain and frequent greasy, bulky stools or difficulty with bowel movements. However, Johnson noted, her nephews were later diagnosed with an extremely rare form of the disease, meaning they would likely have no symptoms. Only 218 others in the United States have the diagnosis, according to Kids Purpose Project’s website, and 80% of those still need treatments, unlike Simon and Abel Chenoweth.

“We’re very, very blessed,” said Johnson. “But that kind of opened our eyes to what it’s like to be a family with kids who are in the hospital.”

Jay County was determined in 2016 to have the highest child poverty rate in Indiana at about 14 percentage points higher than the state average. As of 2022, Jay County ranked 28th out of 92 counties. Approximately 25% of children in Jay County live in poverty.

Johnson explained the women now involved in Kids Purpose Project often sought to help out children or families in need. Her former role as a special needs teacher at General Shanks Elementary School also contributed to her desire to help others.

“I worked with a lot of kids who lived in pretty rough situations,” she said. “I had to meet with a lot of parents just as part of my job, and so you kind of hear the backstory of how parents struggle to take care of their children, and what goes on at home.”

Johnson got ahold of her sisters, Krista Chenoweth and Kortney VanSkyock, her mother, Teresa Taylor, and sister-in-law Courtnee Taylor. 

“I feel like when she suggested it, it was like a no-brainer,” said Chenoweth. “Because the boys’ diagnosis is symptomless, or a miracle, we just wanted to, I guess, shine God’s light on other kids the way that he has for us.”

They started putting together “bravery bags” — they have items such as food, gift cards, toys, gasoline cards or pajamas — for families that are regular visitors to hospitals, a program they still put on today.

“It just kind of grew from there,” Johnson said.

Projects

Kids Purpose Project launched in 2021. The group was granted 501(c)3 status in February 2022, making it a tax-deductible charitable organization.

Kids Purpose Project has teamed up with Youth Service Bureau of Jay County for the last three years between October and December to collect items for keeping children warm through the winter. 

Requests from families in need may include coats, hats, gloves, scarves or boots for infants through 18-year-olds; twin-size bedding such as blankets, pillows, comforters or sheets; bath towels, hand towels or washcloths; or $5 gift cards for Jay County restaurants.

For folks wanting to contribute toward the effort, Kids Purpose Project is accepting new items as donations and has an Amazon list — it’s available at amzn.to/3uhYrFm — for volunteers to purchase and send items. (Drop-off locations are at Bizy Dips Bakery and Coffee Shop, Wildflower Beauty Lounge, Progressive Del Toro and Deer Park Boutique. To arrange a drop-off or pickup, folks can message Kids Purpose Project on Facebook.)

The group also accepts monetary donations that are used to buy items, which are delivered to Youth Service Bureau periodically through the three-month drive. 

Donations this year are being accepted until Dec. 20. As of Nov. 10, Kids Purpose Project had reached just over the halfway point of its goal to collect 100 coats, 100 hats, 100 pairs of gloves and 100 scarves for Jay County children in need this winter.

In 2022, Kids Purpose Project’s partnership with Youth Service Bureau outfitted 70 children in the community with winter coats and accessories.

“(They told us) everything that was donated was taken in the blink of an eye,” Johnson said.

Kids Purpose Project also offers other programs, such as gathering and donating school supplies.

“I think, you know, as mothers, we kind of know what kids need,” said Johnson. “We’ve been there. We know the ins and outs of what those extra costs mean, especially when it comes to school supplies.”

She noted the average cost per child for school supplies each year is $700.

“It’s a huge strain on families, so I’m hoping that we’re making a big impact on helping those families to take care of those extra costs,” she said.

Kids Purpose Project assembles lice kits for schools and provides duffle bags or suitcases filled with toiletries for foster children.

It also participates in various community events throughout the year. Kids Purpose Project organized haircuts for 80 children during the Back to School Bash in August at Dunkirk City Park and offered face painting and do-it-yourself bird feeder painting in September at the Portland Main Street Fall Festival.

Kids Purpose Project was nominated as a finalist for the Community Group of the Year Award at the Jay Community Awards in May.

“This group would give the shirt off their back to help in any way they can for anyone,” said Randy Stephen, a member of Jay County Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors. “This group has the sweetest and kindest hearts.”

The nonprofit organization also received a $2,300 grant in 2022 and a $3,500 grant this summer from the Arby’s Foundation to help purchase school supplies for local students.

Johnson noted her group hasn’t pursued many grants or fundraisers yet but plans to apply for more in the future. The board of directors has tried to keep the organization’s workload within reason of their schedules.

“When we started this, with all of us being such busy Moms, we decided that we didn’t want it to become something stressful,” explained Johnson. “We didn’t want starting a nonprofit to become a burden because obviously we do all have several children …

“But in consideration of that, I think it’s grown very, very well,” she added.

Kids

In the beginning stages of Kids Purpose Project, one little girl in particular stuck in the back of Johnson’s mind as a reason to spearhead the organization.

“She had no running water at home, came to school in the middle of winter in flip flops, shorts and tank tops,” recalled Johnson. “Just seeing kids that live that kind of life right where we are, it’s heartbreaking.”

Johnson hopes to expand the organization’s programs in coming years. Chenoweth noted they’ve considered putting together benefits or fundraisers and offering scholarships to children.

“There are so many different organizations in Jay County who are working to try to make our county a better place,” said Johnson.

To learn more about how to donate or get involved as a volunteer, visit kidspurposeproject.org or go to Kids Purpose Project on Facebook.

“All these Moms got together. And, you know, we’ve all got kids, and our kids, I feel like, are extremely blessed,” Teresa Taylor said. “I feel like we all just want to give back.”