Khloe Thompson, 17, began Khloe Kares in 2015 after spotting a street woman while walking to school with her mother, and decided to use sewing skills she’d learned from her great‑grandmother to help those who had no home.
The first batch of bags was filled with toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, lotion, feminine hygiene products, socks and underwear, and handed out to women in tents and shelters. Within a year, the nonprofit had distributed more than 5,000 of these care bags across the state.
Khloe Kares relies on local businesses, churches and other nonprofits to supply materials and organize distribution events. At each Kare Bag event, partner groups assemble the contents while Khloe’s team stitches the tote and hands it to the recipient.
Thompson’s work earned her the 2019 George H.W. Bush Points of Light Award, and she helped launch #GivingTuesdayKids the same year, encouraging youth to lead volunteer projects. She also runs workshops with her mother on business planning, public speaking and goal‑setting for young people.
Looking ahead, Khloe Kares aims to double its bag output to 10,000 by the end of 2026 and to secure permanent housing solutions for a portion of the women it serves, partnering with city shelters and social‑service agencies.