Leading by example is often the easiest way to connect with children and the new Kin Kids program proves it.
About 20 children of Flin Flon Kinettes members got together to help serve the communities greatest need from a child’s perspective.
“It’s getting kids more involved and helping out with more things in the community,” said Amber Jessup, who co-chairs Kin Kids with Michelle Winton.
“We should get our kids involved in the community and teach them that [volunteering] is something [they] should be doing,” she said.
The kids brainstormed ideas to raise money and provide services in the community while still having fun. They came up with the ideas on their own – with the help of Jessup and Winton on some details – and landed on a bake sale, car wash and fun windup barbecue.
The group held a bake sale in May and raised over $500. The group decided to split their proceeds and donate $100 towards Cystic Fibrosis – Kin Canada’s main service project – as well as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis.
“The kids were pretty pumped to have raised that much money,” said Jessup, who was excited for her group. “They were ecstatic to see how much they’ve been able to donate.”
The group joined the Flin Flon Kinettes team for the Walk to End MS on May 31. They collected their own pledges and wore their Kin Kids T-shirts and hats.
Official launch
Kin Kids was officially launched in January and is open to children of Flin Flon Kinettes between the ages of four and 18.
The group’s executive, made up of members who are at least eight years old, attends the meetings and is helped by the younger members during the work and fun events.
“I’m really proud and excited to see how far Kin Kids will go,” said Jessup. “It’s such an amazing program.”
The program is currently available to children of the Kinettes, but Winton and Jessup hope to open the doors to fellow Kinsmen and their children for the coming year.
Following the Kin schedule, the group will be finished at the end of June and start up again in September.
The group will be holding their first wind-up party later this month with a barbecue lunch in the picnic area at Bakers Narrows.
