Little Hearts & Little Minds: Nourishing Little Lives
Years 1 through 5 are crucial early developmental years for children. They need nourishment not just of body but also of mind and heart as they learn and grow with each passing day. Older siblings need the dignity to arrive to school with clean clothes and bodies. Our Little Hearts & Little Minds emergency-aid program hopes to nourish young lives by extending basic necessities, comfort items, clothing, developmental tools, books, and baby care to children in emergency situations already enrolled in our Little Bellies program or through direct requests made by the school social workers with whom we partner.
Our social workers rely on many important partnerships with other non-profits in the community. However, in certain situations there simply isn't a timely, available solution for these families - Grow Our Kids is here to fill that gap.
1 out of 3 low income families has had to choose between diapers or food for their baby
2/3rds of children living in poverty do not have books in their home
Academically, children growing up in homes with no books are on average three years behind children in homes with lots of books.
The achievement gap can be narrowed or even closed simply by giving books to these underserved children.
Kids with access to their own books have significantly higher reading scores than the children without books.*
In low-income neighborhoods, the ratio of books to kids is one for every 300 children.
Multiple studies have shown that ‘high interest in reading’ triples among children who received new books.*
More than 70% of children who receive books report increased reading at home.
We package our emergency bundles with care - our hope
is to bring a sense of dignity and happiness to the parents
and children receiving these essential items.
