Teens Opposing Poverty

Kelsey Kares

 Kelsey Orndorff was taken from us on August 29, 2008 in a tragic automobile accident.  She was only 17 years old.  From the time she was a young girl, Kelsey personified the best of what young people can be.  She was a passionate follower of Christ and had a passion for people, especially poor people.  Kelsey showed remarkable courage and leadership ability that stemmed from her strong faith. 

When she was still a pre-teen, she became active in TOP.  She went into situations other people wouldn’t go in order to reach out to the poor and homeless.  In the last year of her life, she took the lead and founded TOP’s outreach into Fredericksburg, Virginia through the Christian high school she attended.

To honor Kelsey’s memory and establish a living legacy that reflects the love she carried for people who are trapped in the stranglehold of poverty, TOP has re-named its Direct Aid Fund to Kelsey Kares.

Kelsey Kares is a designated, restricted fund.  Donations made to Kelsey Kares can only be used to provide direct assistance to the poor and homeless.

Overview of Kelsey Kares: In their work with the poor and homeless, TOP teens discover special needs that go beyond the food, clothes, toiletries or home repair we routinely provide.  These needs often aren’t provided through other agencies or institutions.  The requests are usually simple, relatively inexpensive needs that can have life-changing impacts.  Some of the items we have provided in the past are listed below.

Ø      Transportation
Ø      Work boots or other specialized work clothing
Ø      Tools
Ø      Medicine
Ø      Emergency assistance with utilities
Ø      Emergency vehicle repair
Ø      Rental assistance to prevent eviction or to help someone get into a place to live
Ø      And other specific needs too numerous to mention