On today's show, we look back at an earlier episode where we talk with Marci Fair, the Founder of Kares 4 Kids, a nonprofit that provides for children in need.

Close to 13 million children residing in the United States live in families with incomes below the federal poverty line, a threshold shown to underestimate the financial needs of American households. Research shows that, on average, families need an income of about twice that level to cover basic expenses. In 2018, the Census Bureau poverty threshold for a family of three with one child under 18 years old was just $20,212.

We don't yet have statistics from this past year with the effects of the pandemic.

American children are far more likely to live below the poverty line than adults. Younger children are at an even greater risk of living in poverty, as are children of minority families. Most of these children have parents who work, but low wages and unstable employment leave their families struggling to make ends meet.

Children living in poverty often come to school hungry and without having had enough sleep. They often experience family violence, abuse, neglect and lack of basic essentials. There families are often not able to pay for field trips or extracurricular activities of any kind, which puts them at a further disadvantage. This is the frightening reality for millions of children.

This brings us to today's highlighted nonprofit, Kares 4 Kids Partners...

Kares 4 Kids Partners’ mission is simple - to Kare 4 Kids in need. They do this with several events throughout the year that benefit children in need. @kares4kids

Events include Back to School Book Bags, Shopping 4 Kids to help fill pantries at children’s organizations, Books 4 Kids Literacy program, fuzzy We Care Bears to help comfort children who are ill or traumatized, Red Day efforts which help feed hungry children in the community, Kards 4 Kids Christmas gift cards for underserved teenagers in need and more.

Since 2005, they have helped more than 410,525 children and raised over $1,000,000 to help kids. They have supported over 392 charities through the years.

2,016 book bags filled with school supplies were donated to 55 schools and organizations in 2020.

Bev had the opportunity to sit down with Marci Fair, the Founder of Kares 4 Kids.