Non-profit helps with Christmas, back-to-school

The next school year and Christmas are both a long way off, but Roy’s Kids needs assistance to help area children succeed in school and to have a joyous holiday season they might otherwise not have.

To help the non-profit remain able to help kids in Shreveport to have a merry Christmas and to help supply them for their academic life in school, Roy’s Kids is holding a fundraising auction March 15 at the Chef’s Table by Beauxjax, 521 Barksdale Blvd. in Bossier City. According to Michael Sean Powell, the man who manages the non-profit, the event is already sold out.

The auction’s purpose is “to raise money to keep us going,” Powell said. “We’re totally self-funded. We get some grants here and there, but we don’t get any money from the government, the state or the city. We have to do it every year to keep it going.”

Now in its 22nd year, Roy’s Kids is a local non-profit named in honor of Powell’s late brother, who died on a Christmas Day, to help kids with back-to-school needs and to hand out Christmas gifts to those who might not have much.

Although there are plenty of other agencies and organizations that perform the same function around the holidays — Toys for Tots and Operation Santa Claus, to name a few — “we just want to help kids. We don’t want to compete with anybody,” Powell said.

While Roy’s Kids is best-known for its Christmastime gift-giving, school needs are also part of its assistance to area children, providing items like backpacks, school supplies and sometimes even uniforms.

Running a non-profit like Roy’s Kids, he said, costs about $500 a month just to keep the building, located at 2601 Highland Ave., functioning. “We’re tax-exempt, but we still have to keep the gas on, the water on, the electric on, and we have to pay insurance on the building. $10,000 runs the show. We do get toy drives and donations and sponsor kids, but then we spend about 20 grand.”

Powell said about 5,000 kids benefitted from Roy’s Kids last year.

Powell is planning both a live and silent auction as a fundraiser. “The live auction is pretty much ready to go,” he said, “but we’d love some more silent auction items.” Individuals and businesses who would like to donate items can call Powell at 218-1716.

The live auction will feature some pretty cool items, such as a jersey featuring the signatures of the cast of the movie “The Sandlot.” Other signed sports jerseys are also up for bid.

Want Keanu Reeves’ autograph? It’s on a movie poster featuring him as Neo in “The Matrix Reloaded.”

Another movie poster that could be had is of “Tombstone” featuring signatures by the film’s stars, Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer.

There are also several cornhole platforms decorated with the LSU logo or Donald Trump.

Some items are what Powell calls “Buy Now” objects that will not go to auction but can be purchased outright.

Some silent auctions items include decorative picture frames, gift certificates, sculptures and an air purifier.

Powell expects “a good turnout” for the auction, with 180 tickets having been sold.

Although the auction itself is sold out, you can still make a donation to Roy’s Kids through its Venmo account @ royskids2601 or by mail to 2601 Highland Ave., Shreveport, LA 71104.