1. What inspired you to start One Can One Kid?
I always knew from my early years that if I ever had the chance to give back to my community, I would in some capacity. Throughout my life, many people—family, teachers, coaches, and friends—ensured I succeeded, never giving up on me, even when I was ready to give up on myself. When I founded One Can One Kid, I was living in a lower-income neighborhood and started saving cans with the help of my neighbors. With the proceeds, I was able to buy snacks for the neighborhood kids my children played with.I envisioned helping on a larger scale, so I came up with a plan to enlist more people to save their cans for me. As word spread, more cans were collected, enabling us to provide more than just neighborhood snacks. We spread gifts of love throughout the city.
2. What is the mission and vision of your organization?The mission of One Can One Kid is to enrich the lives of children and families in our community through recycling. We achieve this through various annual campaigns, such as:
Back to School Haircut Campaign: We believe that looking good helps children feel good and confident, starting their school year off on the right foot.
Thanksgiving Campaign: Started during COVID-19, this campaign provides Thanksgiving dinners to families who have lost income, ensuring they can enjoy the holiday with their loved ones.
Christmas Campaigns: We adopt families in need during the holidays to ensure they have a joyful season.
Scholarship Program: We have awarded eight scholarships to date, supporting students in their educational pursuits.
Other Initiatives: We donate to youth athletic leagues, assist families in need, battle hunger, and promote continued education.We are honored to support our community and spread love.
3. Who are the primary beneficiaries of your efforts, and how do you identify and reach out to them?The primary beneficiaries are children and families in need in our community, as well as graduating classes from Highland Park High School. We don’t limit our support to a specific demographic because everyone might need assistance at some point.When we have a campaign, we post on our Facebook page, receive calls or texts, and have friends or family refer those in need. For our scholarships, Highland Park students write essays about giving back, and we select the ones that align with our core values. We plan to expand our scholarships to all high schools in Topeka by 2026.
4. Can you describe some of the key programs or initiatives that your nonprofit runs?
Key initiatives include:
Continuing Education: Supporting college, university, or trade school education.
Battling Hunger: Ensuring families have food.
Creating Happy Holiday Memories: Providing support during the holiday seasons.
Mentorship Programs: Currently in the early developmental stages.
5. How has your organization evolved since it was founded? What are some significant milestones you've achieved?The evolution has been amazing. We’ve grown from collecting 300 pounds of cans monthly to doing so almost weekly. Significant milestones include:Feeding 40-50 families for Thanksgiving each of the last four years.Awarding eight scholarships in the last three years, providing thousands of dollars in funds.Giving out 30-40 back-to-school haircuts annually for the last four years.Organizing our 2nd Annual Golf Tournament fundraiser, scheduled for September 7, 2024.
6. What are the biggest challenges your nonprofit faces, and how do you overcome them?Our biggest challenge is funding, as we haven’t received grants or large donations. We strategically plan each campaign on a budget, sometimes funding out-of-pocket to avoid turning anyone away. We remain optimistic and continue doing what God has put on our hearts.
7. Can you share some success stories or outcomes?One of our biggest successes was increasing our scholarship awards from one in the first year to three the next year, and four for the 2024 graduates. We plan to continue increasing this number annually.
8. What role does the local community play in your organization, and how can people get involved?The local community is crucial to One Can One Kid’s success. We ask that instead of throwing away aluminum cans and bottles, people bag them and call us for a pickup. The more people saving cans, the more we can help. This simple act provides a return on their refreshment investment.
9. Can you highlight some of the partnerships or collaborations that have been crucial to your success?Key partners include:Pat Plumbing Heating and AirKSNT (for spreading the word)Capital City Nissan (aluminum can drive)DillonsNumerous local businesses supporting our golf tournamentCypress Ridge Golf CourseMany businesses and individuals save cans and call us regularly for pickups, helping us grow daily.
10. What are your nonprofit’s plans for the future? Any upcoming projects or goals you’re excited about?Our future plans include:Continuing to support those in need in our community.Expanding One Can One Kid to other states.Hosting our 2nd Annual Golf Tournament on September 7th. We welcome sponsorships, players, and donations. Contact us via Facebook or call/text 785-608-6324.
11. What message would you like to share with the broader community about the importance of your work and how they can support your mission?Saving aluminum cans and bottles is an inexpensive way to help our communities. It’s not just about a handout but a hand up. Saving cans also benefits the environment by reducing landfill waste.Follow us on Facebook at One Can One Kid. We are currently designing our website and hope to complete it by the end of the summer.