Tag Archives: children in need

Rachel Luginbuhl |

What is energy insecurity?

For many Southern families in the United States, winter brings more than a chill; it brings tough decisions. Energy insecurity (EI), a silent crisis affecting millions nationwide, often signifies an inability to meet heating, cooling, and energy needs. Low-income families, especially in rural areas, often face drafty homes and skyrocketing utility bills that outpace paychecks.

When the cold sets in, some must make heartbreaking “heat or eat” choices, spending what little they have on warmth or on food. In rural regions across Kentucky, West Virginia, and beyond, older homes and limited access to energy assistance leave families vulnerable to another bitter season.

The Impact of Cold Weather on Children

When temperatures drop, the challenge for our enrolled children extends far beyond just a  “chilly morning”. By lacking warm coats, shoes, or clothing, some students must miss school entirely, not by choice, but out of necessity. Missing school deepens existing attendance struggles, especially for children already living in poverty.

Helping provide warm clothing isn’t just about comfort; it’s about keeping children in class, connected, and ready to learn. A warm jacket can mean the difference between isolation and opportunity.

Climate and Inequality: When Weather Hits Harder

Extreme weather magnifies long-standing disparities in high-poverty, Black, and Hispanic neighborhoods, which already face structural barriers. When harsh heat or cold hits, those barriers grow higher, affecting health, school performance, and family stability.

Southern cities like New Orleans may see fewer winter storms than northern states, but when cold snaps hit, they hit hard. Older homes aren’t built to retain heat, and families living on thin margins have few safety nets. Even though New Orleans is in the South and bouts of cold weather are limited, the need for warm clothing is still their greatest need and the area in which our sponsors help children the most.

In the deep rural areas of Appalachia, steep mountain roads become treacherous when ice or snow arrives. When communities are cut off, students lose access not only to school but to the nutritious meals they depend on there. When significant winter weather hits, it is not an easy task to make the roads passable again – which limits the resources available to already struggling families.

Across North Carolina, from urban Raleigh to rural mountain towns, energy insecurity creates a health and learning risk. Studies find that households that must allocate more than a large share of income toward utilities are far more exposed to extreme temperature swings and health risks.

In the inner-city neighborhoods where we work in Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia, winter brings a different kind of strain. Many families live in older buildings with inconsistent heat and rising utility costs. A stretch of freezing temperatures can mean crowded living spaces, missed school days, and parents forced to choose which bill to pay first. For children already navigating economic hardship, winter can interrupt learning, routine, and a sense of security.

How you can help

In times of hardship, whether from a cold snap, a family crisis, or ongoing energy insecurity, children need to know they are not alone. Through funds like Hope In Action and the Clothing Fund, our donors help provide warm coats, hats, gloves, emergency food, and other critical supplies when families need them most.

Working with trusted school partners and local volunteer coordinators who know their communities well, we quickly identify children who are struggling and respond with compassion and care. Your donations and sponsorship support helps them stay warm, stay in school, and stay focused on learning rather than survival.

Harsh winter conditions do not affect every family equally. Some can absorb the shock; others feel every degree of cold intensely. That is why your sponsorship and donations matter. When you give, you help a child stay warm, fed, and present in the classroom, and you invest in their future, building resilience and hope that last long after winter has passed.

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

You can sponsor a child in one of three ways:

  • call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with one of our staff members;
  • email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org; or
  • go online to our sponsorship portal, create an account, and search for a child in that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Rachel Luginbuhl |

At its heart, literacy is about possibility. It’s about giving a child the tools to learn, to dream, and to choose their own path forward. When we invest in literacy early, especially in underserved communities, we aren’t just teaching children how to read: we are helping them write a different future.

current literacy issues

79% of adults in the U.S. are functionally literate. That means roughly one in five adults struggle with basic reading and writing skills past a sixth grade level. That number is staggering. Literacy affects so much more than the person, it affects whole families, communities, and entire countries.

  • 20% of Americans read below the level needed to earn a living wage.
  • Almost half the adults in the U.S. earn well below the poverty level because of their inability to read.
  • Illiteracy costs U.S. taxpayers an estimated $20 billion each year.
  • Across Latin America and the Caribbean, an estimated 28 million young people cannot read or write, and rural communities bear the brunt of this inequality.

 

books at the dorm

Many Native American students live in such remote areas that they spend most of the academic year in dormitories. Although not all students board, these residential programs make it possible for many young people to receive the education they need and deserve. Children Incorporated, through our sponsorship program and generous donations from caring individuals, helps ensure they have the supplies they need to grow and thrive in these settings.

Over the summer, staff at Dzilth Community School in New Mexico shared a simple but powerful request: more books. Not just “educational” titles, but fun, engaging stories that spark curiosity and make kids want to read.

Our Hope in Action Fund exists for exactly this reason. With donations to this fund, we provided small bookcase libraries for the residential buildings, giving students easy access to books. These new libraries have already inspired more reading and kindled the students’ interest in learning.

vending machines

At many schools a quiet and exciting addition to resource classrooms is being delivered. Through grant funding and community sponsorship, we have several schools within our program that have been gifted book vending machines. These do not operate on money, but rather coins that are distributed to students as a reward for a myriad of positive reasons. Keeping a good grade in a subject, helping others, positive attitudes, all are joyous reasons to be rewarded with a chance to choose a book from the machine.

Besides being a fun tool, there are drastically important cognitive lessons at play with book vending machines. Besides being a healthy reward, it gives a child positive reinforcement, they allow them the control of picking their own item, as well as a chance to express themselves with the choice they make. To them, it isn’t about literacy, it is about the freedom of getting to make your own decision and being acknowledged for their hard work, which carries a tremendous weight in the positive growth of the child, especially one living in poverty.

Children Incorporated has been able to participate as well by providing funding for more books as they are needed through our Hope In Action Fund. As more and more of these book cases are installed in schools around the country we will continue to provide resources for as long as possible.

Book Fairs and their impact

​If you went to public school anytime after 1982 you may remember the Scholastic Book Fair – a traveling company that allows students to purchase books, posters, journals, pens, and all things educational. Granted the autonomy to make decisions, students consider reading an opportunity rather than a chore or school assignment. A study by the University of Rochester (2013) found that elementary students who picked their own summer reading had less of a summer learning slide than those who did not.

Book fairs are a well loved tradition. Journals, books, and pens all provide needed outlets for students, and the feeling of inclusion does incredibly powerful things for a child’s mental health.

Research consistently shows that children who read at home, develop stronger vocabulary, empathy, problem solving, and build confidence as learners. A Book Fair bridges the gap between school and home by putting books directly into children’s hands; books they choose, books that excite them, and books they can return to again and again. That powerful sense of ownership transforms reading from an assignment into a personal experience.

Book fairs play a critical role during the early years of education, when literacy development has the greatest long-term impact. Children who do not read proficiently by third grade are significantly more likely to struggle academically in later years. In underserved communities, where educational setbacks are often compounded by economic stress, early literacy support can change the course of a child’s entire educational journey. 

This is why sponsors are so important, they bring the lifeline to a brighter future. When we invest in our students participating in book fairs, we invest in literacy, and when we invest in literacy, we invest in a child’s future. Every book placed in a child’s hands is a step toward confidence, independence, and possibility.

 

Thank you sponsors and donors!

Sponsorship provides more than just financial assistance—it offers hope, stability, and opportunity. Whether through education, healthcare, or the simple encouragement of knowing someone cares, children are growing into capable, hopeful young adults. To our sponsors: your support is the reason these opportunities exist. Thank you for walking alongside these children on their journey to a brighter future.

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Join Us in Making a Difference

These stories reveal just a glimpse of your support’s impact. Will you help us write the next story?

You can sponsor a child in one of three ways:

SPONSOR A CHILD

 

Sources: https://www.thenationalliteracyinstitute.com/2024-2025-literacy-statistics?

Rachel Luginbuhl |

When a child is sponsored, they can count on consistent support for their most pressing needs. This stability ensures that meals, clothing, and school supplies are not just occasional gifts, but ongoing resources they can rely on. With that security, children are able to focus on their education and personal growth, opening doors to a brighter future.

COMFORT AT BEDTIME, CONFIDENCE FOR TOMORROW

Since 2008 we have partnered with Beyond Bedtime (formerly known as Pajama Program) to strengthen the lives of children by providing pajamas for their rest and routine – key elements of a child’s physical, emotional, and academic well‐being.

This year, Beyond Bedtime partnered us with a local church, who went above and beyond in ensuring that our sponsored children here in Richmond could receive pajamas. In the past weeks we were able to deliver over 300 pairs of pajamas to location children, including those who do not currently have sponsors and would not have received any assistance otherwise.

This recent pajama delivery is a reminder of what’s possible when organizations come together with a shared purpose. We are thankful for Beyond Bedtime’s continued generosity and commitment to children in need, and we are proud of the impact our collaboration has made, and will continue to make, in the lives of the children we serve.

more than just lunch

At our affiliated site in the Philippines, students at the Fortune Center were given a special treat during their monthly food distribution – a fun meal delivered for lunch! Moments like this provide not just basic needs but a sense of inclusion and normalcy. When we get to see smiles on the faces of our sponsored children, and see them have chances to truly experience positive occasions, it reminds us why sponsorship is so very important. When children feel normal they are able to more positively approach life’s challenges and achieve better academic performance in school.

The importance of food

Students at Gattorno School in Bolivia received some very special food packages this month. Their faces say it all, each smile is brought about because of their amazing sponsors.

unsponsored child highlight

Eithan lives in Puerto Rico and is waiting for his sponsor. Currently in preschool, he loves to read and watch cartoons. His mother is employed, but holds a job that can not support the two of them. A sponsor will mean Eithan has everything he needs including food, clothing, and school supplies, so staying in class will never be a worry.

 

 

 

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

You can sponsor a child in one of three ways:

  • call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with a real person in our sponsorship department
  • email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org
  • go online to our sponsorship portal and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Rachel Luginbuhl |

Sleep is seen not just for rest, but as a real superpower that fuels learning, well-being, confidence, and connection. That is the core behind Beyond Bedtime, a non-profit that regularly partners with us at Children Incorporated. Children living in poverty and unsettled housing situations many times forgo sleep for safety. This affects their education, development, and overall well-being. On top of working to make sure they have basic needs, Children Incorporated strives to make sure more than just the basics can be provided. We do that with the help of dedicated partners, like Beyond Bedtime. Together we can make the world better for the children living in it.

How they Began

Beyond Bedtime, originally called The Pajama Program, was founded in 2001, and began with a simple but profound idea: every child deserves comfort and care at bedtime. What started as a simple act of collecting pajamas from friends and family grew into a national organization focused on sleep health, emotional well‑being, and healthy nighttime routines.

Today, Beyond Bedtime works with schools, shelters, foster care agencies, and nonprofit partners across the country to ensure children not only receive pajamas and books, but also the support and education needed to build positive bedtime habits that contribute to long‑term success. They are not just giving pajamas, but helping children, caregivers, and educators learn about healthy bedtime routines and sleep habits.

In 2025, the organization officially rebranded as Beyond Bedtime to better capture its broader mission: combining bedtime essentials and tools for nurturing healthy sleep for long-term well-being.

Why Pajamas Matter

Something as simple as a new pair of pajamas can make a meaningful difference. For children experiencing hardship, pajamas can:

  • Create a sense of normalcy and routine
  • Support better sleep and focus in school
  • Help children feel valued and cared for
  • Ease stress for families already facing difficult circumstances

When children sleep better, they are better equipped to learn, grow, and thrive.

A History of Working Together

Children Incorporated has been grateful to collaborate with Beyond Bedtime over the years. In 2008 the Pajama Program reached out to our the CEO Ron Carter to see how their program could help children enrolled in our program. At that time, donations were coming directly from the Pajama Program, but as they grew they began partnering with other groups to meet the ever growing need. For the last 17 years we have received donations not just from them, but from local churches, run clubs, PTA drives, and many other sources, all because of this amazing partnership. These donations are still helping families meet basic needs while reinforcing the importance of consistency, comfort, and care at home.

While Children Incorporated focuses on providing children with resources such as food, clothing, shelter, and education, Beyond Bedtime strengthens that foundation by supporting rest and routine—key elements of a child’s physical, emotional, and academic well‑being. And the past several years have been a wonderful testament to their mission. Working to ensure our sponsored children had opportunities this year they partnered us with a local church who in turn abundantly provided for local Richmond children. In the past week we were able to deliver over 300 pairs of pajamas to location children, some of which do not currently have sponsors and would not have received any assistance otherwise.

Looking Ahead

This recent pajama delivery is a reminder of what’s possible when organizations come together with a shared purpose. We are thankful for Beyond Bedtime’s continued generosity and commitment to children in need, and we are proud of the impact our collaboration has made—and will continue to make—in the lives of the children we serve.

Together, we’re helping children rest easier tonight so they can dream bigger tomorrow.

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These stories reveal just a glimpse of your support’s impact. Will you help us write the next story?

 

You can sponsor a child in one of three ways:

  • Click Here to go online to visit our sponsorship portal and search for a child that is available for sponsorship
  • call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with a real person in our sponsorship department
  • email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org

SPONSOR A CHILD

Rachel Luginbuhl |

Welcome 2026!

We have had such a wonderful time seeing all the letters, cards, and photos that students sent during the holiday season and throughout the year, and we want to share some of the highlights from 2025.

​In November we sent $25 for every child enrolled in Children Incorporated, in a direct effort to combat the increase in food insecurity. The responses were overwhelming, and the hard work of our volunteer coordinators ensured the resources were used to their fullest potential.

Throughout the year we saw gardens growing, birthdays celebrated, food distributed, and children all around the world being provided with what they need to succeed.

When a child has shoes, food, encouragement, and supplies, they have less barriers, and are better able to thrive at school. It is because of each and every one of you.

Thank you from Children Incorporated, you are changing these children’s lives!

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Josh is still waiting for a sponsor and needs someone to help make his school year a success. He is friendly and happy, and would love to just spend his time outside or helping others. At home with his family he makes sure to keep his room clean, and although he is the youngest of his siblings, Josh makes sure to be as helpful as he can.

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

You can sponsor a child in one of three ways:

  • call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with a real person in our sponsorship department
  • email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org
  • go online to our sponsorship portal and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Liz Collins |

As 2025 draws to a close, I am writing to you with a heart full of gratitude and a deep sense of commitment. Though I officially stepped into the role of CEO of Children Incorporated in August, I have already been profoundly moved and inspired by the unwavering dedication of our staff, the incredible work happening on the ground through our volunteer coordinators, and, most importantly, your extraordinary generosity.

A Year of Transformative Projects

Your contributions have powered life-changing projects in communities both here in the U.S. and overseas. Here are just a few ways you helped us all make a difference:

  • A New Home for Community in the Philippines: We successfully funded the building of the Visayans Community Center. This new center is now a bustling hub, providing over 250 children and their families a dedicated place to learn, share meals, hold community meetings, and connect with vital resources.
  • Creating Safe and Empowering Spaces:
    • In New Orleans, we helped launch a vital leadership program for eighth-grade girls, helping them build confidence and skills for the future.
    • In Kentucky, we funded the creation of a much-needed “calming space” in an elementary school, offering children a safe haven to process and work through trauma they have experienced.
  • Nourishing Minds and Bodies: Your support led to the distribution of new library books, essential recess equipment, and the creation of multiple community vegetable gardens in both the U.S. and abroad, promoting health and sustainable food access.
  • Opportunity Realized: We purchased team jerseys for a few of our Native American children, ensuring they could join their classmates and play for their school team and not miss out on the opportunity to participate.
  • Fundamental Necessities and Comprehensive Care in Lebanon: Through your generosity, our support extended to the most fundamental necessities: providing hearing aid batteries, food vouchers, educational books, critical psychological care, and reliable transportation for vital medical appointments.
  • Addressing Food Insecurity: Recognizing the critical need, your immediate response enabled us to send over $100,000 of additional assistance to address escalating food insecurity both here in the US and overseas.

The Impact of Sponsorship: Your Hand in Their Story

The cornerstone of our mission is sponsorship, and the ripple effects of these personal connections have been immense this year:

  • Basic Necessities and Rising Attendance: Your sponsorship dollars provided more than 10,000 children with access to basic necessities such as food, clothing, healthcare, and education. School attendance is increasing as a direct result of this assistance.
  • Moments of Joy: We saw the profound excitement of children at the book fair, thrilled to pick out their very own books because their sponsor sent funds for this special opportunity.
  • Moments of Dignity: One of our volunteer coordinators was able to purchase waterless bath wipes for a sponsored child and her sister who do not have running water at home. This practical solution allows them to maintain their hygiene, health, and confidence on the days they cannot travel to a relative’s house to shower.
  • Removing Social Barriers: A near straight-A student was feeling self-conscious about the dirty, peeling tape on his insulin medical sensors. Sponsorship funds purchased specialized waterproof covers, removing a source of embarrassment so he can focus on his education, not his appearance.

Honoring the Past, Building the Future

On a personal note, I was deeply moved by the outpouring of support and congratulations from our sponsors and donors who honored our outgoing CEO, Ron Carter, with generous donations to our Hope In Action Fund. This gesture speaks volumes about the community we have built together.

As I step into this role, I pledge to continue the legacy of service and dedication that Ron established, while looking forward to expanding our reach and deepening our impact in the years to come.

This year has been one of significant milestones, growth, and, above all, impactful change in the lives of children around the world. Every single achievement is a direct result of your trust and support.

Thank you for making 2025 a year of true hope and action. Because of you, children are learning, thriving, and building better futures.

With profound appreciation,

Liz Collins

CEO: Children Incorporated

Considering End of Year Giving?

From our Hope In Action Fund to the Feeding Program to Clothing and Shoes, donations from you provide direct and tangible impact to children around the world. If you are considering giving to a worthy organization by the end of 2025, we hope you consider Children Incorporated. We look forward to seeing what we all can accomplish in the year ahead!

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

You can sponsor a child in one of three ways:

  • call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with a real person in our sponsorship department
  • email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org
  • go online to our sponsorship portal and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD