Fowler Bonan Foundation shops for 44 kids from seven counties on December 16th.

By Kerry G. Camp for the Fowler Bonan Foundation
Kerry.Camp@yahoo.com

Harrisburg, Illinois: ‘Tis the season!

In the biggest one-day shopping spree in the history of the organization, the Fowler Bonan “Clothes for Kids” Foundation bought new wardrobes for forty-four more children Tuesday, December 16, 2014.

“We’re in full fever-pitch mode,” said Fowler Bonan Foundation founder Dale Fowler. “This time of year, we are trying to fill every single pending request in advance of the holidays. In many instances, the clothes we buy wind up under the tree, and we understand that.”

With an assist from Marsha Hayes and Shay Swan of the Family Counseling Center, Inc. headquartered in Vienna, twenty-five children from various schools in Massac, Alexander, Pulaski, Pope, and Hardin counties got new clothes.

Buncombe School Supt. Vicki Tripp, along with business manager Julie Krawczyk, shopped for five more students. Cypress School Supt. Kimberly Shoemaker bought for eight, and another five kids from Vienna Grade School, plus a child from Carrier Mills, also got new clothes.

Fowler Bonan Foundation board members Andy Sisulak and Bobbie Fox, both of Marion, were also present to pitch it with the shops.

Each child received about $100 in new clothing including pants, shirts, shoes, underwear, socks and coats — all at absolutely no cost.

“The Fowler Bonan Foundation board of directors is committed to serving kids in all of southern Illinois,” Fowler said. “Yesterday alone we bought for children in seven different counties.”

“And a huge thanks is in order to Ms. Hayes and Ms. Swan from the Family Counseling Center, Inc. and Superintendents Tripp and Shoemaker from Buncombe and Cypress. We couldn’t have physically done what we did yesterday without their capable support, and I applaud each of them for being such an integral part of our program,” Fowler added.

The Fowler-Bonan Foundation, headquartered in Harrisburg, is a registered 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that provides low-income children in Southern Illinois with new clothes and shoes. The organization works from a confidential referral system in which school administrators and /or social services agencies identify children in need. It’s board members are all volunteers. Donations are always appreciated by the foundation, and can be mailed to PO Box 848 in Harrisburg, or made on line on their website. For more information, visit www.FowlerBonanFoundation.com, or follow them on Facebook.