Dennis Kleen Vice President of the Just 4 Kids Foundation Fieldcrest receives a donation from Dave Shirley, Finance Officer, Minonk American Legion Post 142. The money was raised from a 4th of July raffle and benefits kids in the Fieldcrest district that received backpacks and school supplies from the foundation.

The Just 4 Kids Foundation was formed in 2008 by the owners of Calvert & Froelich Memorial Homes, Minonk and Toluca with the initial $5000.00 startup money.  An alliance was formed with the Five Point Parish Methodist Church, Minonk to make the foundation a non-profit organization. Their mission is to provide school supplies to students that are in need of assistance in the Fieldcrest School District.

The program is based off the schools free/reduced lunch program or anyone that qualifies. In the first year of providing backpacks with school supplies to the kids, 188 backpacks and supplies were handed out at registration to kids up to 5th grade. The average cost per child supplied was $27.10. The need was 300 backpacks & supplies up to High School age students. The goal is to provide all students but there was not sufficient  funding to help all the students.

The foundation is asking local businesses to help keep the foundation going by making a tax-deductible donation. You can also help in other ways by simply getting their name and purpose out to the public to help increase awareness of the foundation. The foundation is always looking for help with fund raising and new ideas or volunteers. They are currently in need of a group of local people to be on the board and help with fund raising and projects to keep the foundation going

The foundation asks that you consider a donation to the Just 4 Kids Foundation. You may contact them at 309/432-2522 If you wish to help in any way.