Why should I donate with Bakhita Kids instead of going directly to other giving-organizations?

We know your time is scarce and you don’t always have time to research and vet every charity. Let us do the legwork for you. By giving to Bakhita Kids, every penny of your donations will go to our vetted giving-partners, who already have experienced programs in place for channeling donations directly to children and families in need in Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. 

How quickly will my donations be put to use?

100% of your donations to Bakhita Kids goes to help those in need, in “real-time”. There is a constant need for food and supplies in rural Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. Regular donations are necessary to ensure that supplies are available - whenever and wherever needed. Children are the most precious gift and we are giving them the opportunities to better their lives through your acts of kindness. 

How does Bakhita Kids vet their trusted partners?

Our partners are local Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland businesses, pastors and community leaders. These organizations and individuals interact with the needy in these localities on a daily basis. They direct us to those families and children most in need of assistance and enable us to pass on your donations to support these needs. 

Why doesn’t Bakhita Kids give donations directly to individuals in need?

We partner with organizations who already have trusted systems in place in various Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland localities that are serving the needy. This allows us to put your donations to use immediately. However, we DO make sure every penny of your donations goes directly to those in need, as opposed to paying salaries or overhead costs for any organization.

Why does BK only give to local Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland organizations?

We believe it’s important to get back to the model of local giving, where small communities take care of their own. In an ideal world, members of a small town know the needs of their citizens and they all pull together to fill those needs. However, in our modern world it has become difficult to identify local needs because we’ve become such a global society - we are inundated with the needs of those all around the world and often find ourselves drowning in requests for donations from every corner of the globe.

Few of us have the time or ability to research each of those requests. The goal of Bakhita Kids is to focus on our own local communities in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and to drill down into the needs in those specific areas by using trusted personal connections and organizations who have, will it have?

We are currently working with partners in the following cities/areas:

Virginia: Bedford, Colonial Beach, Lexington, Petersburg, Wise, Orange, Woodbridge

West Virginia: Charles Town, Clarksburg, Morgantown, Martinsburg, Fairmont

Maryland: Baltimore City and surrounding areas

Every penny of your donation to Bakhita Kids will go to our partners who work directly with needy children and families in Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. For example, one of our partners in Ranson, West Virginia -  Pizza City – uses the donations we give them to hand out free slices of pizza on an as-needed basis to hungry children in their town. 

We have also given money to a community group in Charles Town, West Virginia by providing a week’s supply of groceries to qualified families in need. In Baltimore, Bakhita Kids’ donors helped provide cribs that were urgently needed by several families for new babies.

Does Bakhita Kids have a 501(c)(3)?

We have 501(c)(3) status as of April 16, 2020. When you give a donation over the amount of $250, you receive a formal letter weeks after your donation arrives. You will receive a thank you note at every level of giving.

What is the history behind the founding of Bakhita Kids?

Bakhita Kids’ board members are long-time residents of Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland have a desire to help meet the needs of the poor by filling in the gap between donors, reputable organizations and the underserved. After many conversations on how we can best help those in need, we concluded there should be a trustworthy go-between to navigate this process. 

Does Bakhita Kids have an office?

Part of our mission is to eliminate as many overhead costs as possible and to that end we made a choice to be an online-only organization. This also allows us to have board members and volunteers from around the country and the world. 

How can I help?

We need your help in 3 ways:

• First and foremost . . . DONATE! 

• Volunteer your time and talent to help Bakhita Kids! We have need of individuals with areas of expertise in writing, marketing and/or social media and are willing to give a few hours of your time, let us know.  All members of Bakhita Kids are volunteers, there are no paid positions. 

• If you have personal connections with organizations in Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland that are currently helping the underserved, send us their information so we can consider them for potential partnerships.