Red Stocking Breakfast to Benefit Seward County Kids and Families

Not only is Red Stocking Breakfast a holiday tradition in Liberal, but funds raised benefit three long-standing programs in the community, Early Head Start, Head Start and Healthy Families. While these programs are federally or state funded, and may receive additional support from United Way and other grant sources, both rely on the Red Stocking Breakfast funds to serve their area.

Red Stocking Breakfast is KCSL’s signature fundraising event. This year’s event will be held from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, at the Liberal Country Club, 339 W. 18th Street, Liberal, KS. All proceeds will help support KCSL’s Seward County Prevention and Education programs.

According to Christie Reed, Head Start director for KCSL, prevention and education programs are designed to help keep children safe and families strong. “By helping families early, before problems arise, we increase the likelihood that at-risk children are raised in a safe and supportive home – which numerous studies show decreases the probability for negative childhood outcomes such as truancy and substance abuse.”

Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door (children age 10 and under eat free). Advance tickets are available online at www.kcsl.org.

The event venue is sponsored by the Liberal Country Club; 100 percent of the funds raised benefit KCSL programs and services. The event features a breakfast buffet served by local “celebrities.” Attendees also have a chance to win two roundtrip airline tickets from Southwest Airlines. Additional sponsors include the Community Bank, J&R Sand Company, The Community Bank, National Beef, Sunflower Bank, First National Bank of Liberal and High Plains Pizza.

“Attending Red Stocking Breakfast supports children and families in the Liberal area, while having a great breakfast with family and friends,” said Jeff Pfingsten, development manager for KCSL. “By attending a breakfast in your area you’re helping ensure the future availability of programs that keep children safe and strengthen families.”

A Holiday Tradition

The Red Stocking Breakfast is a continuance of a tradition of holiday giving to the Kansas Children’s Service League that started more than 90 years ago. In the 1920s, the community was invited to make holiday gifts to children living at KCSL’s receiving home, a temporary residence for children awaiting a foster or adoptive home. These children would hang their “Little Red Stockings” in anticipation of the generosity of the community. KCSL will also hold Red Stocking Breakfast events in Hutchinson, Garden City, Emporia, Kansas City, Topeka and Wichita.