By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
In 2016, a child sent a letter to Santa Claus, not asking for expensive toys but asking for food.
The child says in the shaky letters of small hands just learning to write, "My mom needs food. My mom needs food because we are running out of food."
Megan Ball of Hays said this simple, earnest plea broke hearts. She and others launched a program to help children and families in the Hays USD 489 school system.
The loosely bound group has expanded its efforts from $2,625 to support basic needs for five families in 2019 to 50 donors giving $6,120 in 2024.
More and more needs are being identified, so Megan and her group of big-hearted donors this year have partnered with Women Who Lead to expand the program's fundraising opportunities and to anchor the giving circle with a permanent, year-round nonprofit partner.
"There are definitely, definitely a lot of unmet needs," Ball said.
Women Who Lead has launched the initiative as Supporting Our Students.
In partnership with Breathe Coffee House of Hays, which is offering free coffee to educators, Ball and other volunteers are visiting schools throughout USD 489 to inform teachers about resources available through Supporting Our Students.
In the past, the group has tried to support the very specific needs of children or families. Ball said it could be a pair of shoes, a winter coat, a mattress, grocery gift cards or assistance with school lunch fees.
The Hays Academy of Hair Design has been a partner for multiple years, providing both cash and gift cards for haircuts for families in need.
The program is not intended to replace existing community programs but to address gaps in supporting families.
Although giving used to happen around the holidays, Supporting Our Students has expanded to a year-long effort.
Educators can contact their school counselors or submit a request directly to the committee at womenwholead.org/sos. Supporting Our Students committee members process requests and personally shop for the needed item, for example, a pair of shoes.
Request details will remain confidential. Items costing more than $250 might be delayed because they must be approved by the Women Who Lead organization.
All USD 489 schools are now eligible, including Early Childhood Connections and the Hays Virtual School.
Ball said the Supporting Our Children project is even more important for her now that she has her own children.
"I don't think I know anybody who would hear of a child who is in need of food or clothing or those essentials who wouldn't step up to help," Ball said. "So I don't know that I am different than anybody else.
Ball said she came from a giving family.
When her teacher asked for school supplies, Ball's mother always sent extra boxes of crayons or tissue paper because she knew other families would struggle to provide them.
"I think one of the things my parents instilled in us is doing more than is asked," she said. ...
"If I were in that position, I would want someone to help me."
The Supporting Our Students committee is in the second week of a two-week fundraising drive. Ball said the committee wishes to expand its efforts to the Victoria, Ellis and Hays Catholic schools.
As of Tuesday, about $11,000 of the $20,000 in seed money the committee hoped to raise for the expansion had been raised. The campaign will culminate with a fundraiser all day Saturday at Breathe.
However, donations will be accepted year-round.
All donated funds go directly to benefit children and families. Women Who Lead takes no administrative fees. All of the committee work is volunteer.
"Every dollar we raise will go back to buying a coat or shoes or glasses or a mattress or whatever it is," Ball said.
"Hearing the responses from the teachers about how the parents react is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time," she said.
The committee is requesting monetary donations only because it has no space to store physical donations, and the needs are ever-changing and unique.
If a local business would like to offer in-kind donations or be a partner for future needs, please contact Ball at [email protected].
You can donate online by visiting womenwholead.org and clicking Directed Donations under the "Sponsors" tab. Select "Supporting our Schools/Youth."
You can also donate through Venmo @womenwholead or mail checks payable to Women Who Lead to PO Box 453, Hays, KS 67601. Please note Supporting Our Youth in the subject line.
Women Who Lead is a Hays-based nonprofit founded in 2017. Its mission is to inspire and empower women to effect change in their community.
To learn more about the organization, its projects, donations or membership, visit womenwholead.org or follow the nonprofit on Facebook.
Editor's note: Cristina Janney is a member of Women Who Lead.