By Andersen Dodge, Brandon Cohen, and Caroline Briggs, Class of 2020
As many people make plans to celebrate the upcoming holiday season with gift-giving, holiday meals, and family gatherings, Colorado Academy is planning to help those who are less fortunate in the 26th year of Students HOPE.
At HOPE last year, more than 2,000 underserved members of our community came to CA to celebrate the joy of the holiday season free of charge. As HOPE continues to expand and flourish, this year’s event, which takes place on Saturday, December 7, will be no less exciting!
Why we wanted to run HOPE
As Co-Presidents of HOPE, which is 100 percent student-run, we wanted to undertake this task because of the impact that it has on others. We are exhilarated by working with more than 100 enthusiastic student volunteers. Perhaps the most extraordinary part of HOPE is not the giving itself, but the mere fact that this organization is entirely built by students who want to give back to their community.
For us, one of the best parts of HOPE is the way that the entire CA community comes together to help set up and run the event. On December 7, you will see so many of your classmates and their families serving meals, organizing clothing, playing with little kids, and helping everyone have a great experience. Nothing else brings the entire school together quite like HOPE does.
Everyone is selfless for a full day, and everyone’s mission is to create happiness for people in need. It is a day that reminds us that it is always better to give than to receive. Seeing the smiles and the looks of hope in the visitors’ eyes is simply inspiring and reminds us all that we have so much to be thankful for.
How can you help us?
Students can help by volunteering on the day of HOPE Families can help by donating money on the CA website and/or donating gently used clothing, personal care items, toys games, books, and more. Please deliver items to bins that will be distributed across campus. In October, we will have a backpack and school supplies drive and a diaper drive. Watch for more details!
Please come together and support this organization as you have in years past to make this year even more successful. With your help, we can grow this incredible organization and bring joy and happiness to many more people. Thank you so much.