K.I.D.S. Mobilizes Industry Leaders - Secures $2 Million in New Products for Haiti Relief Effort; Well-Oiled Delivery System Reaches Victims & More to Come

NEW YORK, Jan. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For 25 years KIDS has responded to disaster. Last week's 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Haiti is no exception, and over 20 containers of donations - NEW apparel; shoes; blankets; diapers; water; underwear and other necessities - are being secured and delivered  through Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc. (K.I.D.S.) and the organization's long-term partners who are on the ground in Haiti.  

"Twenty containers of relief supplies from K.I.D.S have already been sent or are en route to our partners in Haiti," said K.I.D.S. President Janice Weinman. "Although the main port at Port-Au-Prince is still closed, we have been able to arrange for shipping through the port at Cap-Haïtien on the country's north coast, and we have been cleared to send two container shipments per day through the main airport at Port-Au-Prince." K.I.D.S. responded quickly and effectively to disasters like Katrina and the 2004 tsunami, and the organization's 25 years of experience gets the job done.

Since K.I.D.S.' initial appeal just after the earthquake, companies have been very generous in donating new products.  K.I.D.S.' partners on the ground in Haiti have been working with local contacts to prioritize which donations are needed for immediate distribution and which will be used for the longer-term relief that will be ongoing.  

Companies making large donations so far include underwear from Jockey; apparel from Haddad Brands, Gerber Childrenswear, Kahn Lucas, World Team Tennis and LT Apparel; shoes from UGG Australia; water and nutrition bars from Vitamin Shoppe; and diapers from Toys"R"Us.  K.I.D.S. is continuing to work with retailers and manufacturers to obtain donations of desperately needed new products and is also asking the public for monetary support at www.KIDSdonations.org for the long-term response that will be needed by the children and families of Haiti.  

Products that are needed for immediate relief efforts include clothes, socks, underwear and blankets.  Virtually any type of other new product donations will be needed in the weeks and months to come as the country rebuilds, and those donations are also welcome.  Companies can donate products via the Web site www.KIDSdonations.org or by calling 1-800-266-3314.  Kids in Distressed Situations has worked in Haiti since 1995, maintaining a constant presence, primarily in the capital city of Port-au-Prince and the Central Plateau region, providing apparel, shoes, and books to vulnerable children.  

K.I.D.S. founded in 1985,  brings hope and self-esteem to more than 4.5 million children and their families each year by providing new clothes, shoes, toys, furniture, books and juvenile products donated by manufacturers and retailers.  The donations move through a network of nearly 1,000 local community social service agencies in the U.S. and abroad.  Our efforts reach children who are challenged by poverty, homelessness, domestic abuse, low literacy, military family service, major illness, incarcerated family members and disaster survival.  More information about donating new children's clothes, shoes, books, toys and other products is available online at http://www.KIDSdonations.org.

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Janice Weinman

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SOURCE Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc.