30-04-2025
Children's Center receives boost from Kia dealership
JOPLIN, Mo. — A local children's agency gets a big donation today.
The folks at Roper Kia presented a check for $3,500 to the Children's Center of Southwest Missouri.
The money will help with the center's operations and to purchase 'comfort items' like stuffed animals.
To donate, Roper Kia set aside a portion of every vehicle sold in April, which happens to be 'Child Abuse Awareness Month.'
The dealership has supported the Children's Center for more than a decade.
'Nobody likes to talk about the situation some of our kids have to go through, and so we want to be there to help these guys because they're doing things that are really, really helpful to kids, kids in trouble, and kids in need,' said Jack Frost, Roper Kia owner.
'We rely heavily on donations to keep us afloat. There are always things that we are in need of, and oftentimes grants don't cover everything, so we have a really great community that is a giving community, and it it helps us stay in operation,' said Betsy Mense, Children's Center of Southwest Missouri executive director.
Last year, the Children's Center helped more than 900 child abuse survivors in Southwest Missouri.
The agency is funded by grants and fundraisers.
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