Group Has Provided Almost $5 Million of In-Kind Support

SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.), a charity that provides children in need with new clothes, shoes, toys, furniture, books and juvenile products donated by leading manufactures and retailers, has been recognized by Operation Homefront for its generosity in providing almost $5 million to date of in-kind donations to military children. These donations primarily have benefited children of the lowest-paid service members, the E1 through E6 enlisted ranks.

"We applaud Kids in Distressed Situations for providing much-needed support to military children," said Operation Homefront President and CEO Jim Knotts. "Particularly in the midst of the current economic downturn, contributions such as these can make a big difference in the lives of young people."

For three years now, K.I.D.S.' work with Operation Homefront has been supported by generous funding from the juvenile products industry trade association All Baby & Child, Inc. (ABC). Of the nearly $5 million worth of product that K.I.D.S. has directed to Operation Homefront, more than $3 million worth of cribs, bedding, strollers, car seats and other juvenile products reached armed forces' family members through the ABC grants. Military base distributions of new, brand name products from these donors help promote a more comfortable and caring environment when loved ones are away.

"More than 1.8 million spouses of military personnel and their 5 million children must face the pressures of our economy and the stress that active duty deployment can put on a family," said K.I.D.S. President Janice Weinman. "The absence of a parent can cause significant challenges for a family, and we're happy to provide some relief through the distribution of new products to them."

In 2008 alone, K.I.D.S. and Operation Homefront worked together to distribute more than $2 million in merchandise to military personnel in 18 different states, reaching as many as 50,000 individuals.

About Operation Homefront

Operation Homefront provides emergency and morale assistance for our troops, the families they leave behind and for wounded warriors when they return home. A nonprofit 501(c)(3), Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500 volunteers in 30 chapters nationwide, and has met more than 105,000 needs of military families. Operation Homefront also hosts the Web community Operation Homefront Online. For more information, please visit www.operationhomefront.net and www.homefrontonline.com.

About Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.)

K.I.D.S. brings hope and self-esteem to more than 4 million children and their families each year by providing new clothes, shoes, toys, furniture, books and juvenile products donated by leading 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.

SOURCE Operation Homefront