‘Banner year’ expected for Kevin’s Kids

 

 

By Wade Daffron & Kate Daffron

Times Journal

 

“Russell County’s own” Kevin Williams is not only an amazing musician and entertainer, but quite the wordsmith, too.

As bandleader for the Gaither Vocal Band, (a position he’s held for well over 30 years), he’s toured the world, but always fondly thinks of “home” here in Russell Springs.

Williams recently met with a cross-section of the community to kick off his popular, annual fund-raiser, “Kevin’s Kids”-which benefits the youth of Russell County.

The man of wit and words found himself in an interesting full-circle experience.

At a meeting many years ago at a Russell Springs restaurant, Williams found himself nearly without a voice-trying to talk over diners and a cacophony of clattering plates, glasses and silverware as he “tried to sell a dream.”

The gospel music icon wanted to share his idea of helping local youth.

“Essentially I told my story,” he said. “It was simply a dream to help kids like I was.”

During his first-grade year, Williams and his family moved to a “converted…two-room house” in Russell Springs, then eventually to a mobile home on Hale’s Highway (where he lived until moving to Nashville in 1987-88).

“We didn’t have anything,” he said. “My mom and dad were hard workers. I had mom and dad in the house. That was a big deal, but I didn’t realize it. I was blessed by that. They loved me and encouraged me.”

With his parents working minimum wage jobs “to make ends meet,” Williams relied on “a good church family and neighbors to fill in the gap.”

In a pivotal moment of his life, Williams remembers a life-changing event.

“I didn’t have a coat, I needed a coat,” he said. “We had some neighbors who got me a coat for Christmas.”

Little did he know that gesture would later set an amazing ministry in motion.

“Those things stick with a kid,” he said, humbly recalling his pride in that coat.

Along the way, Williams became interested in music and soon found himself playing with local legends before becoming a rising star in the gospel music world.

After experiencing success, while in his 40’s (“Which is not that long ago,” he joked), he kept thinking back to the blessings of his humble childhood.

“I got convicted about kids that are in our society today that are just like I was…overlooked, kind of slipped under the radar,” he said. “Who’s helping them? They don’t necessarily have the church family or neighbors I had. God has always put somebody in my path, but who is in their path?”

“It was sort of a calling to me to ‘get in the way’ and get in the path,” Williams said.

He admitted to feeling a little unsure about how to proceed.

Dear friend and former music teacher Jo Nell Smith asked Kevin if he had considered performing a concert in his hometown.

“Nobody had called me in thirty years,” Kevin laughed. “I said, ‘Alright let’s do it!’”

“We had a little concert the first year,” he recalled. “Economically, it wasn’t a great time to start. Actually, economically, it’s never a great time to start.”

The first concert/fundraiser established a goal of $10,000.

That goal was surpassed.

“That first year we raised a little over $20,000 in this little community,” Williams said.

 

 

In the 11 years Kevin’s Kids has been in existence (two years were lost to COVID), an amazing over $600,000 has been raised for the kids of Russell County.

Last year alone, the event brought in over $105,000, and the goal for this year is north of that.

“It’s going to be a banner year for Kevin’s Kids,” Williams said.

At the most recent meeting, Williams expressed not only appreciation in efforts so far, but confidence in reaching new goals.

Ironically, Williams had been battling a case of laryngitis.

“Struggled to talk at the first meeting…and now this,” he joked.

But the message was loud and clear.

Last month’s kick off meeting for this year’s Kevin’s Kids was filled with success stories, testimonies, laughs, tears, and plenty of praise.

Always quick to turn the spotlight on others, Williams praised local school resource centers for being good stewards of money raised, and Russell County School Superintendent Michael A. Ford who initially suggested a “protected fund” for the project.

“This has been one of the biggest points of this whole thing,” Williams explained.

Money in the funds is there to “only address the needs that are out there.”

Items such as coats, shoes, and hygiene products are provided to local youth, and other needs are also addressed, Williams said.

The school resource centers have been masterful in managing the funds and assisting youths and their families, he said.

“They make prudent decisions,” Williams said. “They buy clothing at reduced rates, they wait until there are sales, they do all kinds of things to manage this money, and they keep a certain amount in reserve, too.”

Williams stressed “it’s not about raising for the school system or the resource managers.”

“It for the kids here in Russell County,” he said. “The way we get it to them is through them (school system and resource offices). If I found a better way, I’d probably do that. But I’ve not found a better way in 11 years.”

“They’re amazing people,” Williams said of the schools and resource centers. “They’re amazing because of the heart they have for these kids. They know the families. They know the true needs.”

Williams said Kevin’s Kids are more inclusive than people may realize.

“The funds are here for every child,” he said.

The community is a crucial element of Kevin’s Kids.

As a child in the 70’s Williams recalled how the community responded when a tornado tore through the area.

“I knew how Russell County comes together,” he said. “I saw a community rebuild. You didn’t have to tell anybody to do it, they just came together. It defined a community in my heart and mind.”

“That’s what a community does,” he said. “That’s the way the church should be, that’s the way any community should be, that’s the way a business should be.”

“So, I knew what the community was capable of in a time of tragedy,” Williams said. “And the community has certainly come aboard for this.”

Williams recalled a famous quote from Coretta Scott King…

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”

Williams has high hopes for this year’s Kevin’s Kids, which will be held April 12 at the First Baptist Church in Russell Springs.

As always, a “special guest” is expected, and more details will soon be released.

Prayers are certainly appreciated, and any financial support will be an investment in the future, “which are the children.”

“Any donation is appreciated,” he appreciated. “I feel we are changing lives for the better.”

“This thing is bigger than us,” Williams said. “We’ve seen what God can do when we all work together. Just look at what we’ve been able to do so far…and that’s because of each and every one of you. It’s definitely the definition of what a community should be.”