Generosity, Community and Helping this Holiday Season
The Holidays mean a lot of things to a lot of people. For most, it’s a time centered on the family. For some it’s a time of giving. For everyone, it’s a time of year that should remind you why it’s so important to be a part of a community. Whether that community is religious, familial or friends, it’s a time of year that we reflect.
Through this reflection comes betterment. The holidays are truly a time to marvel at all the good mankind is capable of. With this in mind, Fresh Start Denver would like to urge you to partake in the season wholeheartedly this year. We have a Giving Tree, sponsored by East West Urban Management, set up for the community of Sun Valley located at 1610 Little Raven Street.
Giving a gift is a gesture we are all familiar with this time of year. For the child you decide to get a gift for, it certainly means more than the material involved. It’s a way to include them in the feelings of gratitude and joy we all seek this time of year. While giving gifts is but a small portion of what the holidays are about, by sharing something material, you perpetuate the emotional wealth associated with the holidays. Wealth in joy, wealth in community and wealth in belonging.
You can also sponsor a child by providing a monetary donation of $25, which will provide them with three months of involvement in the Sun Valley Sports Program at the Rude Recreation Center. This includes coaching, practices and games, all of which enrich the child physically and familiarizes them to working with others to accomplish goals.
In addition to the Sun Valley Giving Tree, Fresh Start will also be hosting a second annual Sun Valley Holiday Party on December 12th from 5:30-8:30. It’s our way of honoring the parents and Sun Valley Kids who have been active in the Sports Program in addition to demonstrating a commitment to community and school. We are pleased to say “thank you” to the folks, who in spite of many challenges continue to meet with Fresh Start and visualize their brighter future.
Though the holidays are not about gifts alone, showing a little generosity will go a long way toward helping these families realize their goals.
Read More
Fresh Start Lemonade Day a Huge Success
Winning Stand
In the warmth of the June sunshine the children of Sun Valley poured lemonade for thirsty passers by. The event took place June 3rd from 10am to 2pm. In those few hours, much was accomplished for the participants of Lemonade Day as well as the community they came to represent, Sun Valley. The concept of a lemonade stand is not new, but using it to teach the children in our communities how to conduct good and honest business is an approach that is. Perhaps the idea has always been under the surface of each lemonade stand. The difference in the Lemonade Day approach lies in the fact that each step is explained and applied to business terminology. This gives the participants more insight into the finer details of running a successful business.
Fresh Start recognized the value in teaching the youth of Sun Valley skills that they can carry for a lifetime, which is why Lemonade Day was a perfect avenue for teaching skills and setting the youth of Sun Valley up for a successful future. Fresh Start staff and volunteer mentors worked with thirteen Sun Valley children. They worked in teams of three, ensuring that each child got the opportunity to learn in a small team environment. Lemonade Day took place all over the nation and children from all walks of life got a chance to participate. Fresh Start set up their stand at Riverfront Park in a greenbelt that sits at the corner of 15th and Little Raven.
The sun was bright, and the lemonade, cold. The smiling children of Sun Valley sold various flavors of lemonade, each innovative and delicious. Judges tasted the lemonade and interviewed the participants on their goals and what they learned. The Coconut Sports Lemonade was the big show stealer, winning Best Tasting Lemonade. The recipe is available on the Fresh Start Facebook page, Coconut Sports Lemonade Recipe. The award for Best Tasting was $ 1,000, which will be used toward the Sun Valley Sports Program. Though the scholarship is a huge financial win for Sun Valley, the real prize the children took home was the skills they learned. With these skills, they can pave their own way toward success in the face of adversity. Learning to work on a team and produce a wonderful product was an experience that offered them a skill set they will use for a lifetime.
The winners of Best Tasting with the Judge
Sun Valley Participant
Delicious Lemonade
Lemonade Day is Tomorrow!
Just a quick reminder that tomorrow is the Lemonade Day function at Riverfront Park to benefit the children of Sun Valley! Don’t forget to swing by, support a very important cause and enjoy a little Lemonade. Stands will be up at 10:30am and will be open till 2:00 p.m. Lemonade costs 1$. Come by the Fresh Start table to learn about how to help the kids of Sun Valley out even more!
Here is an informational video to help you all learn a little more about Lemonade Days.
We can’t wait to see you all tomorrow!
Cheers,
Fresh Start
Read More
Recent Comments