About Us
About us
We Are The Trusted Nonprofit Company.
Kids’ Needs Greater Englewood, FL, Inc., is a non-profit 501(3)(c) organization, run solely by volunteers. We collect donations from Englewood, Rotonda, Boca Grande, and Placida and distribute them to local families in need. Our hope is that through this kindness, of neighbors helping neighbors, we can encourage kids to stay in school and out of harm’s way.
Donated items include school-approved clothing, school supplies, personal hygiene items, socks, underwear and shoes. We gratefully accept monetary donations which we use to restock our inventory throughout the school year, provide holiday assistance and help fund school-based and community youth programs in our area. Kids Needs proudly awards annual $1,000 high school scholarships to qualifying seniors at Lemon Bay High School. Recipients are selected by school-based personnel.
Meetings are held at our closet location in Englewood at 8:00 a.m.
on the last Wednesday of each month with the exceptions of June and July.
- August 31
- September 28
- October 26
- November 30
- January 25
- February 22
- March 29
- April 26
- May 31
Thank you for your interest – we encourage you to get involved!
Our schools
We support students at these schools in the greater Englewood area:
- Englewood Elementary School
- Vineland Elementary School
- Myakka River Elementary School
- L.A. Ainger Middle School
- Lemon Bay High School
- SKY Academy-Englewood campus
- Genesis Christian Academy
What We Do
Our Activities
Donated items include school-approved clothing, school supplies, personal hygiene items, socks, underwear, and shoes. We gratefully accept monetary donations which we use to restock our inventory throughout the school year, provide holiday assistance, and help fund school-based and community youth programs in our area. Kids Needs proudly awards three annual $1,000 high school scholarships to seniors at Lemon Bay High School. Recipients are selected by school-based personnel.
We maintain a store front closet for distribution of donated items which is located at 272 South Indiana Avenue in Englewood. The closet is open from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. on Thursdays that Charlotte County schools are in session. No appointments are needed; we serve our families on a walk-in basis.
We sponsor special events throughout the year, such as the Holiday Assistance Program, Homecoming and Prom boutiques, and our fund-raising golf tournament. We also coordinate with local civic organizations as they sponsor their own donation and collection efforts. We participate in the Englewood YMCA’s annual Back to School Bash by supplying back to school clothing, shoes, toiletries, and school supplies for approximately 500 students. Watch this site for announcements of upcoming activities.
How We Began
Our Founder, Ann Dever
On a cold afternoon in February 2009, Ann Dever ran into her neighbor, Marcia Louden. After a little catching up, Ann asked how the children were doing during the economic downturn. At the time, Marcia Louden was the principal at L.A. Ainger Middle School and she knew exactly how the recession was impacting local kids.
Kids wore shoes with holes in them, that were too small, or that were held together with duct tape. Many had no sweaters or coats for chilly days and some came to school wrapped in blankets. Many did not have enough spare change in their pockets for a small lunch and went hungry rather than share their misfortune or admit that one or both parents had lost their jobs.
After hearing the sad news, Ann wanted to help. Ann had the time, and she certainly had the heart, to take on any challenge to do some good in her community. However, Ann was diagnosed with terminal cancer at the age of 74 and, knowing her own days were numbered, she contacted her friend Tom Dignam, a local businessman with Key Agency, to help. In April 2009, Ann, Tom, and a few other generous souls founded Kids’ Needs of Greater Englewood. Sadly, Ann passed away in October 2009 but her legacy lives on in the organization she inspired.
Our Volunteer Family
Our Board of Directors
Becca deRosa and Mary Jo Holleran, Co-Chairs
Marcia Ziegler, Recording Secretary
Cindy Handrick, Treasurer
Karen Current
Marie LaForge, Manager of Social Media
Honorary Board Member:
Tom Dignam, one of our founding members
Special Consultant
Chuck Dever, husband of our founder, remains closely associated with Kids’ Needs. While not an active Board member, Chuck continues to play an important role in guiding our organization.
Meetings are held at our closet location in Englewood at 8:00 a.m. on the last Friday of each month with the exceptions of June and July.