Feed the Children, an international nonprofit organization, has focused on fulfilling the educational and personal needs of children who may be less fortunate with their Kids School Basics Program in the U.S. Each year, 510 Title I schools across all fifty states plus the District of Columbia receive a shipment of donated supplies at no cost to the schools. The supplies for each school support 50 children. That’s 25,500 children and their families getting critical support!
A letter from Feed the Children to the recipient schools states, “we distribute these items not only to provide essential resources, but also to help these children recognize their full potential and create more opportunities for them.” This program has been running for over 20 years.
In 2020, Feed the Children was searching for a new partner’s support for this program at a time when it was needed most. Unified Caring Association (UCA) stepped up to sponsor Feed the Children’s Kids School Basics Program, also adding Sunbuddy Feelings Kits for all 25,500 children and 510 schools. The emotional support tool kits included both the Sunbuddy Feeling Cards and Feelings Dictionary, proven effective and incredibly valuable for teaching the language and process of working with feeling and emotions.
A spokesperson for Feed the Children further shared, “we are very grateful to our new partner, Unified Caring Association, for their wonderful Sunbuddy kits and for making all of the shipments possible.” UCA’s membership is so very grateful to partner with Feed the Children to help support their mission providing hope and resources for those without life’s essentials.
The Assistant Superintendent for Collinsville Community Unit School District in Illinois expressed their thanks after distributing the supplies received in his letter stating: “Please know how much this act of kindness will mean as for our most at-risk students in need of academic, social and emotional support. As you know, these have been challenging times for educators, students and parents as we balance in-person learning and remote learning during a global pandemic. We appreciate your generosity and compassion for the students in our communities and your dedication to providing educational support for students. Your efforts will help support teachers, parents and students sharing time together getting lost in adventures of a Sunbuddy Book and Sunbuddy Feeling Cards in order to allow us all to get to know ourselves better.”
A common theme in the continued feedback coming into Feed the Children and UCA is the importance of the Sunbuddy emotional support tools. Lori in Connecticut expressed gratitude for the Sunbuddy Feelings kits saying, “we have really tried to up the ante with emotions and feelings during this unprecedented time.”
Sana in an Atlanta, Georgia school district stated that a school social worker had created ‘calming’ boxes for students in one of their elementary schools. “The boxes contained different items that teachers could use to support students regulation and understanding of their feelings. When I was made aware of her project, I suggested adding the feeling book and cards that you all provided. She loved the idea and stated that they were perfect for the ‘calming boxes’!” The cards and dictionaries are also now being used during student individual and group sessions in the school district.
With UCA’s focus on meeting urgent unmet needs of children as a part of our C.A.R.E. Program, our partnership with Feed the Children is a flagship for the mission and impact our members are having while moving caring forward.