Angie Weldin founded Kinston Kares Children and Families Contribution Center to assist Lenoir County children who lack the basics, including supplies for the upcoming school year. Kinston Kares has donation boxes for school supplies at three Piggly Wiggly stores in and around Kinston. Photo and story by Patrick Holmes / LCPS Public Information Officer

The first of the summer campaigns to collect school supplies for Lenoir County students has been launched by a local organization whose founder is asking people to consider the impact of “one small act of kindness, like giving.”

Kinston Kares Children and Families Contribution Center is collecting backpacks and basic school supplies through the end of July at three Piggly Wiggly locations – on U.S. 70, on McLewean Street and at Jackson Heights. Collection boxes are in the stores, ready to receive donations.

“We have made it very easy for the citizens of Lenoir County and surrounding areas to contribute,” Kinston Kares founder Angie Weldin said. “When they do their shopping, if they could pick up one or two items and just drop it in the donation box, their gift will go to helping a needy child in this county.”

The organization is concentrating on the needs of children from newborns to age 15. While the focus for July is school supplies, Kinston Kares also solicits donations of hygiene items, baby food, diapers and formula year-round. New and gently-used clothes, coats and shoes are also needed.

“There’s a great need in this county,” Weldin said. “I just know so many people who get WIC or food stamps and generally it’s not enough. They have to ration the formula or the diapers or the baby food or whatever they may need. There are children who go to school who just don’t have the basic necessities.”

Items Weldin hopes to collect during the school supply drive include backpacks, three-ring notebooks, composition books, pencils, erasers, notebook paper, bottled glue, glue sticks, blue and black pens and two-pocket folders.

Kinston Kares plans to distribute the donated supplies through the schools with the assistance of Lenoir County Public Schools, based on student need as determined by school staff.

“One small act of kindness, like giving, can have a lifelong, lasting impact on someone,” Weldin said.

More information about Kinston Kares’ campaign to assist people in need in Lenoir County can be found on the organization’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/kidsnneed).

“I’ve had over 1.5 million views on the page so far, so the word is getting out,” Weldin said. “I’m hoping people will come forward.”