Methodist Men makes donation to “Kids First” program

<span>The Methodist Men's organization of the First United Methodist Church in Chester recently made a $200 donation to the Chester Grade School "Kids First" program.</span>

<span>The "Kids First" program helps to provide various basic supplies to CGS students who might otherwise be unable to purchase them.</span>

<span>"Kids First" is a program we started several years ago to help provide various items to students who possibly cannot afford to obtain such items themselves," said CGS Nurse Amy Eggemeyer, who is "Kids First" coordinator.</span>

<span>Such items might be school supplies such as pens, pencils, paper, markers, a book bag, notebooks, and other classroom items.</span>

<span>"Sometimes students also need basic personal items such as shoes, clothing, coats, gloves, hats and various other clothing items," said Eggemeyer.</span>

<span>The "Kids First" program has a board or committee, made up primarily of teachers, that governs or makes decisions about requests for items.</span>

<span>Teachers, administrators, staff members or other school personnel can contact Eggemeyer to request necessary items for students. </span>

<span>"If the requests are for emergency items such as when a student really does not have any decent shoes or if he or she doesn't have any gloves when it is freezing outside, I can just go to a local store and purchase the item," Eggemeyer said. "If the purchase is out of the ordinary, I refer it to the committee to decide the worthiness of the request."</span>

<span>The "Kids First" program is funded by numerous local businesses, organizations, clubs and individuals who make donations to fund the much-needed program. </span>

<span>"Sometimes I get contacted several times a week and other times I go for weeks without a needy-student request," Eggemeyer said. "Needs vary from very small to some being rather large. The fund allows me to help keep kids in business on a daily basis."</span>

<span>The Methodist Men have helped to support the needs of students at CGS for decades, even before the "Kids First" program was started.</span>

<span>"We used to buy gifts for kids at Christmas and we donated shoes, coats and other items for students when Mrs. Winters was School Nurse," said Methodist Men Past President Roy Wunderlich. "The Methodist Men actually started the 'Adopt-A-Family' program with the coordination of Nurse Winters and our UMM chairman, Dr. Jim Beers.</span>

<span>"Nurse Amy has now accepted responsibility for coordinating the efforts and we enjoy staying involved with the program."</span>

<span>Current Methodist Men President Zeb Holder presented a $200 UMM check to Eggemeyer during the month of January to help financially support the needs of students at CGS. </span>

<span>"We will continue to support the "Kids First" program as long as we can," Holder said. "The men really feel connected to the program since we have been involved with it since its conception.</span>

"The Methodist Men have taken ownership and enjoy helping to see that students get the necessary items to be successful in their educational pursuits."