A banquet held recently for King’s Kids of America raised about $5,000 for the program, executive director Betty Knight said.

“It was just an evening of fun and enjoyment, and a lot of laughter,” Knight said. “We gave out different awards for people who had donated to the organization.”

The banquet featured a fashion show using King’s Kids participants, local pastors and city officials — including Vice Mayor Curtis Milteer, Commonwealth’s Attorney C. Phillips Ferguson, Clerk of Court Randy Carter, Treasurer Ron Williams and Chief of Staff Sherry Hunt — as models.

The King’s Kids program mentors children by providing educational and recreational opportunities and workshops for participating children. The proceeds from the banquet will be use for operating expenses, supplies, field trips and more.

“It’s a nonprofit organization that’s used to train the children about the whole-man concept,” Knight said. “We teach them about things that involve the children mentally, physically, spiritually and economically. We teach them about self-esteem, leadership skills and abilities.”

Children in the program meet once each week in recreational centers for devotions and lessons from the curriculum. Lessons cover a variety of topics, Knight said, from money management and anger management to self-esteem and handling difficult situations.

The children also go on field trips together — some of them educational and some just for fun, Knight said.

In addition, the children volunteer in nursing homes and at the private homes of people who need extra help, Knight said.

“Sometimes they go to the elderly’s homes and do things that they can’t do,” Knight said. “They do different things for the community.”

The program also helps influence the children’s futures.

“Some of them may not have an idea what they want to do when they grow up,” Knight said.

To help the children figure out what they want, King’s Kids also brings in career speakers and college representatives for the older children.

“They get assistance in meeting sessions on a weekly basis,” Knight said.

For more information about King’s Kids, call 539-6918.