Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Kimpel.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
We have served the community for 15 years since 2004.
Started out of my love for Christmas and believing that everyone deserved something new for Christmas and not just the kids but the entire family.
Everyone came to my party at Christmas and I had and still have the spirit of Christmas 365 days which is where the first name came from.
I believed and knew that if people didn’t have it for Christmas that didn’t and would not have it the rest of the year, so we began to provide for other life celebrations…i.e. birthdays. Mother’s Day, Father’s Day/Family Picnics, Easter, Back to School/Clothes Giveaways, Thanksgiving and of course Christmas.
We soon realized we needed to help those we were helping help themselves move into a place a self-sufficiency (whatever that looked like for them) so we began to offer training and provide resources to the families we served…in other words we help them learn to “fish”.
We have served as Fiscal Sponsors for other agencies in need as they worked toward their 501(c)(3).
Has it been a smooth road?
The road has NOT at all been smooth. Some of our struggles including people understanding that Christmas 365 meant we had needs all year long. The name was a struggle which is why four years ago we changed the name to Giving 365.
We also have struggled financially like many small non-profits. It is interesting people love and believe in your ideas but are not always willing to support up an coming organizations, it really is and has been a catch 22.
We struggle not having our own location where we can hold our events and sessions for our families which means we depend on others kindness, time and space.
We are 100% run by volunteers so we also struggle having enough staff and time to do all we want and need to do.
We’d love to hear more about your organization.
So, who are we:
We are a group of individuals from varied backgrounds we have a heart for making a difference in the lives of another in our community.
Why do we continue to exist?
We saw a need back in 2004 and the needs continue to grow, and we want to BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY OF INDIVIDUALS AT WHATEVER LEVEL THAT IS FOR THEM.
What makes us different you ask: How you can help:
You are thinking and are right there are many non-profits and many of us doing similar things but a few things that make us different.
We are not and will never be government funded (so we can serve who we believe have the greatest need).
We provide on a case by person’s/family’s basis not on a guideline basis or to meet a quota!
We meet our youth and families where they are, but we provide hope and hand up not just a handout.
We are not looking to save the world, but we are looking to break the cycle of poverty that is affecting our youth and families many of which live in our communities and some are our neighbors.
How are we doing it now and in the future:
We continue to provide through life celebration.
We provide educational training session some we offer, and others are through partnerships some of these include: Financial Education, Parent Education, Job Readiness, Empowerment, Mentorship, Life Skills.
We provide them with resources for services we are unable to provide. Our ultimate goal is to provide housing for our families in need so they are able to truly be able to break their cycle of poverty for their families and their children would never need our services!
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Here in the Inland Empire there is a huge need and there are many nonprofit doing a great work but there are not enough funds and affordable housing options for families living here in Southern California.
The cost of living here is hard for many and for those at or below the poverty line it seems harder and harder for families like ours to break the cycle they find themselves in.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1223 Doris Lane Unit 101
Corona, CA 92882 - Website: www.giving365.org
- Phone: 951.305.0016
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: giving_365
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/believeingiving365
Image Credit:
All Photo credit is Kathi Burns – Administrator /Historian and Dawn Ellen Ferry – Board Member
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
