Local kids team with Kohl’s to make a difference

March 22, 2017

For the past nine years, Jack Kohn and his sister, Charlotte, have demonstrated that we all, regardless of age, can make a difference in our communities.

Jack has grown his annual food drive from a once-a-year project during the holidays to a year-round project.

Since 2008, Jack and Charlotte have collected more than 11,000 pounds of food through their holiday food drive. In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, Jack promotes the food drive to his neighbors, friends and families. He provides a list of foods most needed by the Food Bank and provides a date that he and Charlotte will be back to pick up the foods. In addition to much needed food, the duo also pick up monetary donations.

Jack and Charlotte’s commitment to community service has not gone unnoticed. Last year in recognition of his service, Jack was the local Kohl’s Brandywine store winner through the Kohl’s Kids Care Program. While shopping at the store with their mom, Carolyn, Jack and Charlotte formed a partnership with the Brandywine Kohls to help the Food Bank of Delaware.

“I needed assistance from an employee – it turned out to be Jeanine- the store manager,” said Carolyn. “After she helped me, I introduced myself and she shared she was the store manager. I then took the opportunity to introduce her to Jack, who was her store winner, and Charlotte. She then asked Jack about his volunteer work and he shared info on his annual food drive. Jeanine was quick to say that she and her team would like to help and collect food. Right then the partnership began.”

Last year Jack presented to the store management team about the Food Bank of Delaware and the Backpack Program. They kicked off the partnership with a food drive specifically for the Backpack Program.

“When I heard their story, I only felt it was natural for Kohl’s to help them in their drive to end hunger in Wilmington, which is our community, too,” she said. “Kohl’s really believes we should give back to our communities, and encourages its Associates to volunteer and assist in causes that help non-profit organizations.  If five Associates volunteer three hours of their time for a non-profit agency, Kohl’s will donate $500 to that organization.”

Since forging the partnership, Kohls has donated $7,000 to the Food Bank of Delaware and collected hundreds of pounds of food each month through a variety of food drives organized by the Kohn kids. Monthly food drive themes have included a “Spread the Love” peanut butter drive in February and a December milk and cookies (shelf-stable milk and graham crackers) collection.

Jack and Charlotte both agree that feeding those who are hungry is so important, especially the kids. They really like the Food Bank’s Backpack program and hope the food they collect helps those kids in need!

“We’re proud to support the Food Bank of Delaware, as well as Jack, Charlotte, and Carolyn in their quest to help end hunger,” said Jeanine.

 

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