Helping Hands

_MMy nomination for this year's award is the Helping Hands Program of the North Fork.  Kevin Keifer, and his volunteer staff, has taken an idea for holiday food baskets for needy kids and enlarged it to help more than 70 needy children in the North Fork EVERY week.  Some food is delivered from the Food Bank of the Rockies, some is donated and also money is donated to make this program work.  A child does not have to qualify for this program so none are turned away.  Bags of food are prepared by the volunteers each week and they are delivered to the elementary/middle schools in the valley.  The schools then hand out these bags of food on Friday so the child can have "kid friendly food" for the weekend.

This program has been supported by all the principals, aides, teachers of the North Fork and everyone works together to make this work. Just a little bit of help from some caring people can really make the difference.  Some families have stopped getting the bags and saying "They are doing OK now and really appreciated the help" during hard times.  Enriching the community with volunteerism, helping hungry kids, having all kinds of volunteers work together and love for the North Fork Valley..this is a real big win, win for all involved.

I hope you will consider this organization for your award.  It is always good to shine a light on these small efforts by dedicated people.

Thank you 

Jackie Parks