Kalamazoo Lend A Hand is a non-profit organization that aims to help needy children in Kalamazoo County succeed in school by providing basic supplies. It has distributed over 2,000 winter clothing items and backpacks filled with supplies to several elementary and middle schools. The organization works with many community partners and volunteers to assess needs in schools and provide resources to children from low-income families.

2. Our Mission To promote the well-being of needy children in Kalamazoo County and southwest Michigan by providing services that make a difference in their lives, allow them to achieve success as individuals, and help them be responsible citizens of their community.

7. Percentage of Students on Free-and-Reduced Lunch Program-- 2007/’08 enrollment Source: Michigan Department of Education-Grants coordination and school support, school breakfast and lunch information, KRESA district, School year 2007-2008 enrollment.

9. Activities In the fall of 2008, KLH volunteers distributed winter gear, school supplies and over 400 backpacks at the Day of Dignity event at Martin Luther King Park in Kalamazoo

10. Day of Dignity Event, Kalamazoo

11. Comstock Green Meadow Elementary Comstock East Elementary

12. Woods Lake Elementary Winter Fundraiser with AM 590 WKZO’s Jay Morris

13. Book Donations and Volunteer Reading at Woods Lake Elementary KOHL’s A-Team Volunteers read to students at Woods Lake Elementary

14. Northeastern Elementary

15. Woodward School for Technology and Research

16. Woods Lake Elementary

17. Northglade Montessori School

18. Portage Central Elementary