Project 313.

Project 313 was a collaborative service project between Kelyn McKnight and Roots Strong. In celebration of Kelyn’s 23rd birthday in October of 2020, Kelyn partnered with our team here at Roots Strong to initiate a service project for our city’s youth. Our mission? To collect school supplies, books, and personal hygiene products to support children and their families facing housing insecurity and seeking support through the Coalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS). COTS is a nonprofit organization based in Detroit, Michigan that serves families facing housing insecurity and hardship. Like many across the world, COVID-19 has drastically impacted the lives of many Detroiters. Many families lost their jobs, making day-to-day living increasingly challenging. COTS has worked to meet the needs of the community by creating food programs, partnering with local organizations and corporations, and providing a means to support families experiencing economic hardship back into self-sufficiency.

The project was a huge success in which Kelyn and our team collected a wide variety of diverse children’s books, school supplies, and personal hygiene products. Children and their unique experiences often go unsung in conversations surrounding the pandemic’s impact. We are nothing without our community and we couldn’t be more honored to have been a part of such a special project from the heart and vision of our friend, Kelyn McKnight. Kelyn’s heart to help others reminds us of the importance of advocating for our most vulnerable populations. To keep up with the phenomenal work Kelyn does, please visit her Instagram.