The month of December includes some of the best seasons of the whole year. December means winter weather season; the holiday season; and Giving Season. As we close in on the end of 2021, there are some great giving opportunities that will make a lasting impact on kids who are currently living on the streets of Nairobi. Online GivingIn a matter of minutes, you can give a secure donation online and make an immediate impact. You may also choose to give your gift in honor or memory of someone, and your loved one will be thrilled to know that their impact on you prompted you to be generous toward street children in Kenya. Stock GivingStock donations are one of the best ways to maximize your impact and reduce your taxes. MADE IN THE STREETS makes it simple and easy to donate stock and make a life-changing difference for street kids. For more information on making a stock donation to MADE IN THE STREETS before the end of the year, contact MITS’ Executive Director Brad Voss (brad@madeinthestreets.org / 817-688-6675) or MITS’ Finance Director Ericka Maple (ericka@madeinthestreets.org / 615-300-5724) Monthly PartnershipMonthly Partners are the Champions of MITS who go above and beyond to considerably impact the monthly operating expenses of loving and serving former street kids who are enrolled in the MADE IN THE STREETS boarding school program. Monthly Partners can choose a monthly donation level that helps to cover the ongoing costs of food, housing, education, and mentorship, and more for each of the students seeking to change their life in the MITS program. MITS Partners are paired with a current student and agree to donate monthly at one or more of four different levels ($25, $50, $75, $150). Some partners even choose to cover the entire monthly expenses for one student ($400). In addition to the essential financial support, MITS Partners also send and receive letters and updates from the MITS students, along with special news and fun surprises. By MailPrefer to send a check in the mail? That's great!
Make checks payable to MADE IN THE STREETS and mail to the following address: MADE IN THE STREETS 409 Franklin Rd Brentwood, TN 37027 Anyway you give, it matters to street kids; thank you for for generosity!
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Congratulations to MITS Graduates of 2021!This past Saturday was graduation day! We are so proud of the hard work and determination this group of students has shown throughout their time at MITS. Watch the video below to hear from MITS Graduate Doreen about her experience in school and how she is asking you to pray for her. Scroll down to see photos from graduation! Eastleigh Gets CreativeThis month, the Eastleigh Centre hosted its first art show! All pieces were created by street kids in Eastleigh. During the weeks leading up to the show, they came to draw, paint, and sculpt together.
September 29th was A Day of Sharing!
This 24-hour online fundraising event brought supporters, donors, staff, family, and friends together to support the MITS' mission to love and serve street kids. Sunday was dedicated to celebrating the lives of street kids and sharing in their stories. The day culminated in an online event, where team members, street kids, and students shared their struggles and triumphs and told how God is moving in Kenya. What an incredible day! In total, the MITS family gave over $96,000 through more than 85 gifts to make a difference for students and street kids in Kenya. That is remarkable! So what does that mean? It means more meals for street kids, more opportunity for them to learn about the love of Jesus. It means more children coming off the streets to become students and get the chance to pursue their dreams. It means more graduates supporting themselves and feeling proud of who they have become. Thank you for joining us, for celebrating with us, and for sharing!! Didn't have a chance to give or watch the online event? It's not too late! Click here. A Day of CelebrationSince 2012, International Day for Street Children has been celebrated globally on April 12 to acknowledge the strength and resiliency of street children around the world. Worldwide, millions of children rely on the streets to survive. Over 60,000 of those children are living on the streets of Nairobi, Kenya. During the week leading up to IDSC, the supporters of MITS came together to raise awareness and funds to meet the needs of those children living on the streets of Nairobi. The goal: $10,000 to provide meals for 2,000 street kids. Challenge: AcceptedHalfway through the day, an anonymous donor posed a challenge: if you raise $7,500 by 7:30 PM CT, the challenger will give $2500, reaching the goal.
Supporters and donors rallied together and rose to the challenge. Together, you raised $10,457 - that's food for 2,091 street children, going above and beyond our goal! What an amazing day! Thankful to everyone who supported, shared, gave, and celebrated with us. Over the last few weeks, Kenya has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases throughout the country. With cases rising and limited access to vaccines, the President has issued new restrictions in Nairobi which are expected to last for the next 60 days. Beginning last Friday, some of these restrictions include: a nightly curfew from 8pm to 4am; no in-person dining at restaurants in Nairobi; suspension of all face-to-face teaching at all schools and universities; and the suspension of public gatherings and in-person meetings within the counties of Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, Kiambu and Nakuru.
What does that mean for MITS? In Kamulu, the team is taking appropriate precautions with social distancing and sanitizing stations. Literacy students have moved to virtual learning in their dorm areas. Skills students are remaining within the Skills compound and studying in small numbers. The team and students are adapting and education continues! In Eastleigh, programs are currently on hold. The MITS team is working closely with local authorities to provide food and care for street children in small numbers. As always, the mission to love and serve street kids continues! None of that is possible without you. Your support during these times means the world to our team and students. If you would like to help the team through these challenges, click the button below to give. Stay tuned for updates. We are blessed to have a board of directors who freely give their time as they meet quarterly and provide valuable guidance to our ministry. We recently had three outstanding new members join our board. Introducing...
In Case You Missed It...here are some highlights at MADE IN THE STREETS from February! STAFF HIGHLIGHTS
ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB PLANTS OVER 50 TREES ![]() Our environmental club at Kware base has planted over 50 tree seedlings and 20 different kinds of flowers. Planting trees has helped the street children feel a sense of belonging in the community. They are showing themselves to be responsible when given the opportunity. Street children are often the most caring and protective of the environment in their communities, keeping their bases clean and collecting plastic for the recycling centre's. Now they are able to plant trees as well! STUDENT HIGHLIGHT Emmanuel is thirteen years old, and he joined the MITS program last year. His favorite subjects in school are math and Kiswahili. One of his dreams is "when I grow up, I want to be a chef." When asked about MITS, Emmanuel said "I love MADE IN THE STREETS because it has helped me with a home, and it has helped me to know English." Last month, fifteen students completed the Skills program and graduated from MADE IN THE STREETS. These graduates have worked hard to stay on track in the midst of a challenging year. They have proven themselves academically and technically prepared for the job market. With a diploma in hand, they are equipped to pursue paid work all over Kenya. Through the Into the World program, MITS' post-graduation support system, they have been preparing for their transition to "the real world" for the last semester. Job well done to the following graduates! MADE IN THE STREETS CLASS OF 2020On Friday, March 27, the U.S. Congress passed, and the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a $2 trillion economic stimulus package legislated to provide immediate relief for families, businesses, and nonprofits. High Level Information New Deduction Available: Up to $300 in annual charitable contributions. This is available only to people who take the standard deduction (for taxpayers who do not itemize their deductions). It is an “above the line” adjustment to income that will reduce a donor’s adjusted gross income (AGI), and thereby reduce taxable income. A donation to a donor advised fund (DAF) does not qualify for this new deduction. New Charitable Deduction Limits: As part of the bill, individuals and corporations that itemize can deduct much greater amounts of their contributions. Individuals can elect to deduct donations up to 100% of their 2020 AGI (up from 60% previously). Corporations may deduct up to 25% of taxable income, up from the previous limit of 10%. The new deduction is for gifts that go to a public charity, such as MADE IN THE STREETS. Required Minimum Distributions Waived in 2020 for Most Donors: Required minimum distributions (RMD) that would have had to start in 2020 do not have to start until 2021, including distributions from defined benefit pension plans and 457 plans. This change could de-incentive someone from making a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from their IRA in 2020. However, making a QCD this year to MITS is a great way for itemizers and non-itemizers alike to direct up to $100,000 from their IRA to MITS in a tax efficient manner. Details About the CARES Act The inclusion of an expanded charitable giving incentive is a critical acknowledgement by Congress that the work of nonprofits like MADE IN THE STREETS is essential and important. Indeed, now more than ever street children in Kenya (and all over the World) are facing food shortages; a severe lack of medical attention; and continued fears about COVID-19. They need your love and care more than ever. It is also the first time in history that Congress has passed this type of giving incentive in response to a disaster or national emergency. Here’s How it Works New Deduction Available: The bill makes a new deduction available for up to $300 in annual charitable contributions. This is particularly beneficial to people who take the standard deduction when filing their taxes (in other words for taxpayers who do not itemize their deductions). It is calculated by subtracting the amount of the donation from your gross income. It is an “above the line” adjustment to income that will reduce your AGI, and thereby reduce taxable income.
To qualify, you would have to give a donation to a qualified charity, like MITS, before December 31. If you have already made your donation in 2020, that contribution counts toward the $300 cap. A donation to a donor-advised fund (DAF) does not qualify for this new deduction. New Charitable Deduction Limits: Also included in the bill, individuals and corporations that itemize can deduct much greater amounts of their contributions. Individuals can elect to deduct cash contributions, up to 100% of their 2020 adjusted gross income, on itemized 2020 tax returns. This is up from the previous limit of 60%. Corporations may deduct up to 25% of taxable income, up from the previous limit of 10%. The new deduction is only for cash gifts that go to a public charity. If you give cash to, say, your private foundation, the old deduction rules apply. And while the organizations that manage DAF’s are public charities, you do not get the higher deduction for donating cash to your DAF. These new limits do not apply to gifts of appreciated stock. You can safely and easily make a cash donation to MADE IN THE STREETS through the MITS online donation portal. If your assets are substantial enough that you can give more than your income this year, you won’t lose the deduction for the excess amount. You can use it next year, as has always been the case. Required minimum distributions waived in 2020 for most donors: RMD for individuals over age 70½ are suspended until 2021. This includes distributions from defined benefit pension plans and 457 plans. The RMD is an attractive way for donors to make a significant charitable gift directly from their IRA to a charity through a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) while avoiding taxable income. Though not required in 2020, the tax benefit of the QCD still remains. All taxpayers, itemizers and non-itemizers alike, can still direct gifts from their IRA to charities in a tax efficient manner. For more information or to discuss the great tax deductions available to donors in 2020, please contact MITS Executive Director, Brad Voss, at brad@madeinthestreets.org. |
When you do this for 27 years, you're bound to pick up a few stories and lessons along the way. Thoughts, impressions, news, and highlights from our staff, visitors, donors, students and alumni.
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