October 27th 2024.
As adults, we can all relate to the struggle of trying to focus on work when we haven't had breakfast or skipped lunch. But have you ever stopped to think about how difficult it must be for children with growing bodies and developing brains in the same situation? Lisle Reed, coordinator with Whole Child Initiatives at Adams 12 Five Star Schools, wants us to imagine just that.
"Children can have access to the best teachers and curriculum, but without proper nutrition, they are unable to learn at the same level as their peers," Reed explains. This is why organizations like The Denver Post Season To Share are so important. This annual holiday fundraising campaign supports local nonprofits that provide life-changing programs to help low-income children and families move out of poverty and towards self-sufficiency.
One of the organizations supported by Season To Share is Food for Hope, a participant since 2024. It all started as a big idea from a church pastor in Adams County over a decade ago. Now, Food for Hope serves over 4,000 students and members of their households through their weekend food bags, "school fuel" snack program, and dispersed food pantries in four school districts in the northeast metro area.
"We believe that every child deserves an equal opportunity to succeed and grow in a healthy way, regardless of their circumstances," says Emily Stromquist, executive director of Food for Hope since its founding. "As our program has grown, we have found ways to be more creative and comprehensive in our approach."
One example of this creativity is their dispersed food pantries. In 2019, the organization recognized the need for fresh food items like dairy, but lacked the facilities to provide their own food bank. Luckily, Northglenn High School offered them extra space. However, the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily shut down the pantry. When it reopened in 2021, it was an instant success, and other schools began offering their spaces to serve their families as well. Now, Food for Hope has nine pantries in schools and other buildings operated by their client districts.
Stromquist acknowledges that there is still a significant amount of unmet need among the county's children and families. In August, Food for Hope finally moved into their own warehouse space to better distribute food items after years of operating in makeshift spaces donated by local churches. They are also in the early stages of a two-year fundraising campaign to raise $2 million to further expand their reach.
"We have 17 different schools on the waitlist for our various programs," Stromquist shares. In 27J Schools, the district's community and family outreach coordinator, Desiree Quintanilla, has seen the needs grow up close. In the 2023-2024 school year, the district tracked 594 students from homeless families. As of this month, that number has increased to 693 kids.
Ten of the district's 24 schools receive support from Food for Hope's programs, and the district also hosts a food pantry at its central Family Resource Center in Brighton. "I think, honestly, it builds trusting relationships," Quintanilla says of the impact of Food for Hope's support. Reed, from Adams 12 district, agrees, adding, "Food for Hope is an integral part of that in our district."
Food for Hope has been in operation since 2015, with a team of seven employees and over 850 volunteers. Their annual budget is $978,000, and they serve approximately 4,000 students and members of their households each month through all of their programs. Their address is 12132 Grant Circle in Thornton, CO.
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