While 70% of students in Denver Public Schools receive free and reduced lunches (FRL), the percentage of FRL at these four schools averages in the 90% range, which is unbelievably sad and troublesome. All four of these communities, like so many in the U.S., have been hit hard by the poor economy and poverty is evident in the lives of so many of our students and their families. I have a student tha
t arrives at school each day and asks me repeatedly, beginning in the morning, if it is almost time to eat lunch. Imagine trying to focus on learning to read when all you can think about is what is going on in your stomach. This boy needs your help; these families need your help!!! We appreciate your willingness to selflessly open your hearts and pocketbooks in order to touch the lives of so many young children and their families during tough times. The name is new, but the mission remains the same. We will continue to feed kids and their families for the two-week holiday break when they are not in school. The gratitude and relief expressed by families at both Lumberg Elementary (in the Jeffco Public Schools) and Johnson Elementary (in Denver Public Schools) has been heartfelt and astounding. I want to share with you some of what we have we have given together the last three winters. The numbers are impressive:
•4000 pounds of rice
•nearly 4000 pounds of beans
•600 boxes of cereal
•1000 pounds of pancake mix
•1000 jars of spaghetti sauce
•1000 packages of pasta
•350 jars of peanut butter
•175 jars of jelly
•over 4000 cans of vegetables
•thousands of pounds of meat
•800 packages of hot dogs
•800 boxes of mac&cheese
…and so much more I cannot list all of it. In reflection upon what we have already done for so many people in need, the next only option was to form The ZARA PROJECT in order to expand the number of families we feed moving forward. This year, TZP will continue to provide food boxes for families from both Lumberg and Johnson. We would also like to add two more schools, Stein Elementary in Jefferson County and Force Elementary in Denver County. If you would like to support the mission of The ZARA PROJECT again, or for the first time, there are many options. You can sponsor a family for $70, donate non-perishable goods or make a check out to The ZARA PROJECT for any amount and send it to 8040 W. Fairview Ave., Littleton CO, 80128. Also, we are looking for volunteers for December 11th and December 15th at a location to be determined. Call me or send me an email with questions. What we do together in The ZARA PROJECT’s first official project, will not only feed many families over the two week winter break this year, but will send a strong message to so many children that we are care about their well-being and are invested in their future. I and The Zara Project’s board members, thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. We can do this!!,
Kendra Smith
Executive Director
[email protected]
