Ending another installment of a staple event, the Young Automotive Group’s three Burley locations and the Young Caring for Our Young Foundation worked with volunteers to provide for over 170 children in need during their Julie’s Clothes for Kids event on August 1.
“Watching the community gather this morning for an impactful cause was incredibly inspiring,” said Kellee Belnap, director of Young Caring for Our Young. “Julie’s Clothes for Kids is an initiative that’s touched so many lives, and we’re grateful to see it continually receive a substantial level of support.”
Aiding students in Cassia and Minidoka’s school districts, volunteers met at the Walmart on Overland Avenue in Burley, Idaho. There, they were provided with a $150 gift card and assigned a child to shop for through the Young Caring for Our Young Foundation’s KIND Fund app — which empowers individuals to help kids receive clothing for school.
Once purchased, the items were paired with backpacks, which had been stuffed with class supplies by a team at Young GMC Burley. The donations were then distributed to the appropriate schools.
“I think one thing that’s kept this initiative so strong is how personal it is,” said Belnap. “When engaging in charitable events, opportunities to focus on one individual are fairly rare. Volunteers typically gain an understanding of who they’re shopping for quickly, and try to tailor their purchases to them. It makes endeavors like these incredibly meaningful for both the contributor and the recipient.”
Julie’s Clothes for Kids began in 2019 as a tribute to community member Julie Breshears. The event has since been held in her honor by the foundation and Young Automotive Group. 2025’s installment marked the first year that Young Caring for Our Young’s KIND Fund program was used to facilitate efforts.
Standing for Kids In Need, the KIND Fund launched in 2022, and currently supports children from across the Wasatch Front to southern Idaho. Operated through a mobile app, educators make requests on behalf of children. A volunteer is then provided with a $150 gift card to shop for a student, and is instructed to deliver the items to the front office of the recipient’s school. Through the app, individuals are able to make monetary donations to the program as well.
To date, the KIND Fund has clothed approximately 7,000 children in need across Utah and Idaho.
“Being able to engage with programs like the KIND Fund has been one of my favorite things about working for the Young Automotive Group,” said Matthew Rosenlund, general manager of Young GMC Burley. “Supporting our communities is a staple element of what we do at each of our locations. We’re incredibly grateful to make an impact on the places we love.”
Outside of Julie’s Clothes for Kids, individuals can provide clothing for children in need throughout the year with the KIND Fund app. Visit the link to get involved: https://thinkcaring.org/volunteer/
