Our process
An Educator Sees the Need. Kids First Takes It From There.
Teachers, counselors, and childcare staff spend more time with children than almost anyone. When they see a child who needs help, they reach out to Kids First and we move quickly to get that child what they need.
Educators
Make the initial request: teachers, counselors, and childcare staff
8
Active programs serving children
3 Counties
Martin, St. Lucie & Indian River
0
Waiting lists. Ever.
The Four Steps in Detail
An Educator Identifies the Need and Contacts Kids First
A teacher, school counselor, or childcare worker sees a child who is missing something essential: food, clothing, shoes, hygiene basics, or school supplies. They contact Kids First directly and describe what the child needs. No paperwork. No eligibility forms. Their word is enough.
Requests come from educators at public schools, private schools, and childcare centers throughout Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River Counties.
Kids First Reviews the Request and Gathers the Items
Kids First receives the request, confirms what the child needs, and assembles everything from inventory. Food, clothing, shoes, hygiene essentials, care packs, and school supplies are packed and prepared. Every request is treated as urgent. We do not wait for a scheduled distribution day.
Our inventory is maintained specifically to allow rapid response. We keep the most commonly needed items stocked so we can move quickly the moment a request comes in.
Delivered to the Educator Who Gets It Into the Child's Hands
Packed items are delivered to the educator or school that made the request. The educator ensures everything reaches the child directly, with full care and discretion. No public handouts. No stigma. Just a child who has what they need to show up and thrive.
The educator who knows the child best is the one who completes the handoff. This protects the child's dignity and ensures the items reach the right hands.
A real example
What a Typical Request Looks Like
On a Tuesday morning, a school counselor at a Treasure Coast elementary school notices that one of her students, a 7-year-old girl, has been wearing the same thin shirt for three days in a row. The temperature has dropped. She contacts Kids First and describes what the child needs. Kids First reviews the request, gathers a warm jacket, two new outfits, a pair of shoes in her size, and a care pack with soap, shampoo, and a toothbrush, and delivers everything to the school. The counselor handles the handoff quietly, before school. The child never had to ask for anything. She just showed up the next morning ready to learn.
Names and identifying details are always kept private. This example is representative of the requests Kids First receives regularly.
Why educators make the request
Educators See the Need Before Anyone Else Does
Teachers, school counselors, and childcare staff are with children for hours every day at public schools, private schools, and daycare centers across the Treasure Coast. They notice when a child comes in hungry, underdressed, or without the basics. They are the first to see the need in real time, and they are the trusted bridge between a child who needs help and Kids First.
Teachers and counselors at public and private schools can submit a request directly
Daycare and childcare center staff are welcome to reach out on behalf of a child
No paperwork, eligibility forms, or income verification required
An educator's observation is all it takes to start the process
Every child is served with dignity and full privacy throughout
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Help a Child This Week?
An educator sees the need. Kids First receives the request, gathers the items, packs them up, and delivers directly to the child — quickly.