Young girls from around the community had an unusual opportunity last week to spend a little time being pampered in an environment of beauty.
From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, an event called “Pretty in Pink” took place in the Houston Housing Authority community room, in which girls received hair braiding and curling, face painting, manicures, and pedicures, all in the name of charity.
The event was hosted by Kids First of the Ozarks, a non-profit organization that began operation about a year ago, designed to work with educators and school officials in south-central Missouri to help meet clothing, food and personal needs of underprivileged children in the region. Pretty in Pink was the organization’s first-ever fundraiser, and participants were invited to attend dressed as a princess (or to don appropriate garb provided by event organizers), and were immersed in elaborately decorated surroundings, all with a pink theme. Many of the beauty services were provided by workers from Untangled Salon, a Houston business owned by Kids First vice president Pattie Rust. Snacks and drinks were also provided, and a limited number of door prizes and gift bags were given away.
By the end of the day, 75 girls had gotten the full fairy tale-like treatment and Kids First had raised about $800 (through a $10 donation per participant and other donations).
Children who receive assistance from Kids First have each been recommended to the organization by school representatives. Founder and board president Angie Dobson, who worked with the state Division of Family Services for 18 years, said Kids First concentrates on gathering monetary donations from a variety of sources in order to purchase new clothing, personal hygiene items, and other items tailored to fit specific needs. Already this year, several children in the Houston and Cabool communities have benefited.
“Counselors, principals, bus drivers and other people on the front lines can usually identify signs indicating where we can help, like when a kid gets on a bus without a coat or that kind of thing,” Dobson said.
While its funding is certainly not unlimited, Kids First’s approach to assisting children doesn’t focus on limitations.
“We don’t have a monetary limit on what we will buy for a kid,” Dobson said. “If a kid needs everything from head-to-toe, we’ll try to do that. But we do sometimes look for more specific ways to help, like we recently bought a pair of shoes for a boy so he could play on the school basketball team.”
When items are distributed to children, the deed is executed without any fanfare.
“The kids don’t really know where it comes from,” Dobson said. “We usually take it directly to the school office and the counselor calls them in and gives it to them discreetly. I like it to be discreet. That’s part of it.”
When Dobson felt led to start Kids First, she studied how a similar organization in Springfield operated, knowing that this area was prime for the idea.
“I felt like we could really make a difference,” she said, “and so far we’ve helped a lot of kids.”
Prior to last week’s fundraiser, Kids First had raised money exclusively through soliciting tax-deductible donations from businesses and individuals. Dobson said she and other board members will look at the pros and cons of Pretty in Pink before a decision is made to make it an annual endeavor, but other fundraiser events (possibly involving boys or moms) are already in the discussion stages.
“It went really, really well,” Rust said. “It turned out better than what we expected. We’ve been blessed by a lot of wonderful volunteers, and it’s been great for the kids.”
Tax-deductible donations are accepted by mail at 706 First Street, Houston, MO, 65483.
Board members: Angie Dobson (president), Pattie Rust (vice president), Anita Kennedy (secretary), Christilia Orithineer (treasurer).