At Food For Thought – Denver, we absolutely love getting letters like the following. THIS is what we’re here for and what we’re all about, and it’s also important for us to share these wonderful experiences with all of our supporters!

Hello Food For Thought,
I am a kindergarten teacher at Garden Place Academy in Denver. I wanted to say thank you for continuing to provide support to GPA. I cannot begin to tell you how much my students look  forward to receiving their food bags. I have several students who come back from longer school  breaks telling me they have been hungry – and currently are hungry. When the food bags arrive,  there is almost a sense of panic in some of my kindergartners as they’re worried they won’t get a  bag of food. I now make sure that several times a week as we walk out of school, we stop at the free food table in the cafeteria. I let my kindergartners choose food and put it in their backpacks or sacks.
It can be difficult at times to explain to people how much just being hungry impacts my students. Students cannot focus in class on anything when their tummies are hungry. I know students have more behavior challenges as well as a reduced academic focus when they are hungry. It helps my students feel more safe and secure at school as they know they will have food to take home.
The food bags that Food For Thought sends are so generous that my kindergartners frequently have a difficult time carrying them out of the school. Each and every one of them is proud to be struggling to carry the food home to their families. Some of my students help their friends by carrying two bags outside to the parents. It is one of my favorite moments watching us as we work together to get down the hall and outside.
I’m sure you don’t hear it enough, but your support has a tremendous impact on my students and school. Thank you so much for your continued support!
Jennifer Laursen ELA-E Kindergarten Teacher Garden Place Academy