Foundation hosting inaugural toy drive
The Kids Over Everything (KOE) Foundation is reaching out this holiday season to aid children in need with the first annual Christmas For Kids Toy Drive and kicking off their toy distribution tonight at the Westside Community Center.
Jacob Boler, founder and president of KOE, said he had the idea for the toy drive ever since he created the foundation in 2010.
“KOE started when I was around in the community and I saw there weren’t a lot of events going on for kids, so I wanted to help out and start with something small,” Boler said. “Our first event, which was a little dance during Christmas break at the Neshoba Sports Club in Philadelphia, went great and we ended up growing a lot quicker than I expected.”
In 2016, Boler launched a book bag drive for KOE in the Neshoba Coliseum and gave away backpacks, school supplies, and other things for children in the area and held the event yearly until the pandemic in 2020. Other KOE events include free basketball training at Lakeside and Kickball for the Kids at Westside Park during the summer.
This year Boler decided it was time to try his hand at a toy drive for the holidays.
“We’ve been collecting toys Monday through Friday from the community and local businesses for several weeks, and we are accepting toys until this evening (Wed., Dec. 21) during our distribution event,” Boler said. “While the toy drive itself is for kids 12 and under, everyone in the community is invited to the distribution event.”
The event is tonight (Wednesday) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Westside Community Center, and while the toys are distributed to the kids, attendees can enjoy games, face painting, music, drinks and snacks. Boler noted people are allowed to bring toys to the event as last minute donations.
Along with the festivities, MSU Wide Receiver Tulu Griffin, Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter, and UAB defensive lineman Jae’Vien Gill (all Neshoba County natives) will be at the event signing autographs for the kids and taking pictures.
“This foundation is based on help from the community, such as local businesses, donating to us,” Boler said. “Without help from the community, we wouldn’t have been able to keep the foundation going for this long. It’s something I love doing and we appreciate all the support.”
For more information about the toy drive and KOE, contact Boler at (601) 663-9373, or visit the KOE Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/kidsovereverythingkoe/.