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Each bite of delicious pie means a little help for kids in the Copper Country.
Simple Kindness for Youth is a local organization that helps young people when a particular need arises.
Gifts are usually small, between $50 and $150, but they go a long way to helping in a time of need.
Since 2010, SKY has granted over $70,000.
Donations from a pie auction and bake sale held at the Houghton Fire Hall Wednesday go toward supporting the program.
Every pie was sold and the event raised over $2,200.
One bid came in at $100 for a single pumpkin pie.
That was no surprise to volunteers Robert “Bubba” Megowen and Lynnette Borree.
Megowen said, “Kids are priceless. There is no money on helping a kid, especially some of these kids that don’t get a chance. To help motivate these kids and keep them going forward, there’s no—a $100, I give a $1,000 for a pie.”
Borree said, “You get a pie out of the deal but really you’re helping kids to reach their full potential.”
“You’re helping SKY,” Megowen continued. “We’ve had some kids that would never had a chance if they didn’t get that little boost—just a little bit to keep them going forward.”
Past donations have gone to things such as eyeglasses, prom rentals and tuition to Rock Camp.
Here is the press release, SKY sent out prior to the event:
The mission of Simple Kindness for Youth (SKY) is: To help young people build and maintain their self-esteem by providing means to access basic needs, enable them to feel accepted with their peers, and enable access to educational activities and community participation. SKY began as a 501 c 3 organization, in 2010 by a group of professionals from the Copper Country and the Intermediate School District, to help children with items they may need in order to be able to increase their self-esteem and self-confidence.
Teachers or professionals who see a student in need, then complete a SKY grant. Grants began at $50 in 2010 and have increased up to $150, over the course of the last 5 years. Grants range from coveralls for shop class, tuition for Rock Camp, books, clothing, boots, state ID’s, glasses, orthotics, music lessons, haircuts, tux rentals for prom, graduation pictures and invitations, team or health care uniforms, educational toys, and driver’s license or state Id’s.
Grants are reviewed and awarded by 2 screeners who volunteer their time, and then the treasurer writes a check made out to the person who wrote the grant. The person who wrote the grant is then responsible for the purchase of the item(s) and then we ask that a thank you note be written by the student and sent to SKY. All monetary donations made to SKY go directly to grants for the children.
Since 2010, SKY has awarded over 800 grants totaling over $70,000.
The SKY Board is all volunteer and we meet monthly in various restaurants to conduct business. We are a 501 c3 non-profit organization. We currently have 12 board members. SKY has no over–head costs, with the exception of filing fees. Members donate their time and talents. WE operate out of the CCISD and are able to use some of their resources for copying and mailings. We also have a telephone number: 482-4250 ext. 168, for teachers or professionals to call for information. WE produce a semi-annual newsletter, which is mailed or emailed in the fall and spring for soliciting donations and to update the community on our activities.
If you would like to donate, we would accept any amount and your donation is considered tax free. As our program continues to grow and children’s needs grow, our funds need to be replenished, so we can continue to help the children of the Copper Country. If you would consider adding us as a line item to your annual budget, we could continue our mission, which is to help build and maintain self-esteem in our children.
Thank you for your support on the well-being of our children in the Copper Country.
Please visit our web site at: www.simplekindnessforyouth.org, for more information on SKY.
