Operation: Kid Equip Launches First Annual Winter Wear Drive

Royal Oak, MI, November 07, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Operation: Kid Equip is pleased to announce a Winter Wear & School Supply Drive for low-income and poor children in southeastern Michigan. This winter many elementary school students in our communities will walk to school without a hat or mittens. To top it off, many of the children and families who struggle to afford school supplies throughout the year will need them replenished in January.

Operation: Kid Equip is asking for the following items in children's sizes: winter coats, hats, gloves, mittens, boots and warm socks. The organization is also seeking pencils, crayons, markers, rulers, paper and spiral notebooks. A full list is located on the organizations website, http://www.operationkidequip.org/sdl.html

Operation: Kid Equip has a vision of equipping every child with the necessary tools they need to learn and succeed in school. "Regardless of their family's financial situation, all children should have the opportunity for learning and academic achievement. We are asking the entire community to please help us collect new mittens, hats and school supplies for the children we serve so they can stay warm, safe and be equipped for school," said Menachem Kniespeck, co-founder of Operation: Kid Equip. "There is no limit to what a child can learn when equipped with the things they need the most, like school supplies and warm winter wear."

Operation: Kid Equip will collect donations through February 2009 and will distribute them to local children throughout the winter season.

The following local businesses and organizations have already committed to be drop off locations:

Allegra Print & Imaging
685 South Adams
Birmingham

Allegra Print & Imaging
3334 Rochester Road
Troy

BIGGBY Coffee
1952 S. Telegraph Road
Bloomfield Hills

Furniture Bank of Southeastern Michigan
333 N. Perry
Pontiac

Leon & Lulu
96 W. 14 Mile Road
Clawson

Lisa's Gift Wrappers
28834 Woodward Avenue
Royal Oak

Rochester Regional Chamber
71 Walnut Street, Ste 110
Rochester

As a special thank you for participating in the drive, BIGGBY Coffee-Bloomfield Hills is offering a special drink coupon to those dropping off an item at the drive box located in their store.

The organization is seeking other businesses and organizations that are willing to be a drop off location for this very special drive. Those interested in hosting a drive box (18"x18"x30") should contact Operation: Kid Equip using the contact information listed below. Operation: Kid Equip will collect donations to the drive boxes on a weekly basis. As new businesses become drop off locations, the website will be updated at http://www.operationkidequip.org/sdl.html.

If you want to make a monetary donation please call Operation: Kid Equip, or visit the website.

As you prepare for the winter months, please give consideration to donating warm clothing that you will no longer use to the Operation: Kid Equip Winter Wear & School Supply Drive. For further information contact Mike McFall at (800) 968-3169, Ext. 3, or visit the Operation: Kid Equip site at http://www.operationkidequip.org.

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About Operation: Kid Equip

The mission of Operation: Kid Equip is to serve the educational needs of children by providing free school supply kits to students from low-income families. Envisioned by its founders in late 2007, Operation: Kid Equip is a Michigan-based program of Congressional District Programs, Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charity. To learn more about Operation: Kid Equip, visit http://www.operationkidequip.org.

[Logo: http://www.operationkidequip.org/images/headerlogo.jpg]