Milwaukee-based nonprofit Club Kids 414 is calling out to the community with a need for volunteers and furnishings as the organization renovates its new space, located at 2770 N. 18th Street in Milwaukee.
After making a public plea for donated space in January, the organization received a donated house from Wells Fargo in June.
The 1,400-square-foot house, a bank-owned foreclosure that consists of two stories plus a basement, will provide a roof for the organization’s Bags of Hope program, which distributes bags of toiletries basic necessities, and resources to Milwaukee’s inner city youth.
Club Kids 414, which provides recreational and after school programming, hopes to be able to ramp up the Bags of Hope program at its new location by the holiday season. The organization is seeking volunteers to make the site a more livable, workable space. Volunteers will assist with carpet installation, painting, landscaping, siding, construction of a garage, and pouring of concrete.
Marcus Duke, executive director, said the organization is recruiting volunteers of all skill levels.
In addition to volunteers, the nonprofit is partnering with area electric and plumbing unions to update the house’s utilities.
While Club Kids 414 is also in need of home furnishings, it has already received significant donations from Sherwin-Williams and Carpet City Flooring as well as special discounts off goods from the Community Warehouse.
Remaining items on the organization’s “wish list” include hardwood and laminate flooring, commercial tile, flooring underlay, carpet, fencing, drywall, counter tops, wall lights, paint, a screen door, a security door, two gas stoves, two refrigerators, two washers and two dryers, among several other items.
“We need community help,” Duke said. “It’s to the point now where we can’t continue paying for everything out of pocket. We need the help of the community.”
To celebrate its new site and boost community support of its needs, Club Kids 414 will host a block party on Saturday with free food, back-to-school supplies, live entertainment and presentations by Alderman Russell Stamper and union representatives.
The block party, open to the community, will be held at the nonprofit’s new house, with presentations beginning at 1 p.m.
Club Kids 414 is temporarily headquartered in a storefront space at 224 N. 35th Street in Milwaukee but is also seeking donated commercial space, at least 10,000 square feet, for a new home base.
“Our mission is to keep kids off the streets, out of gangs, out of jails, and to give them alternatives to dangerous streets,” Duke said.
“We’ve been doing this for 20 years (and) we have a long track record of helping kids,” he said.
Interested donors can contact Duke at 414-380-3853.
