Food for Thought - Feeding our Youngest

SECOR currently partners with 35 schools in Arapahoe, Douglas, and Elbert counties to provide healthy food on the weekends for children who otherwise may not eat. We are averaging 1,700 bags per week, but we could easily double our impact. By partnering with the SECORCares Food for Thought program, you will provide healthy food for the most vulnerable children giving them meals for the weekend.

Hunger in our Schools

For the first time in history, 3 out of 4  public elementary school teachers say they see students regularly come to school hungry.

Students often save food from their school lunches to take home so they will have something to eat later. 

The Impact on Our Children 

  • Hungry children exhibited 7 to 12 times as many symptoms of aggressive behavior as their at-risk or not-hungry peers. 

  • Hungry children were significantly more likely to receive special education services, to have repeated a grade in school, and to have received mental health counseling.

  • Hungry children suffer growth impairment that greatly hinders their full physical potential.

  • Hungry children are sick more often, and more likely to have to be hospitalized.

Our Unprecedented Opportunity

According to the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), over 58,000 children (PK-12) - almost 1/3 of all students - in Arapahoe, Douglas, and Elbert counties are at risk of going without food on the weekends, the majority of whom are in the elementary schools. Working together, we can change that. 

“SECOR is connected to a strategic vision that all students and families are supported and feel a sense of community and safety at our school. SECOR helps us provide a supportive environment for our families - which correlates to strengthened relationships.” - Food for Thought Partner

How Food for Thought works: 

The leadership and counselors at our partner schools provide us with a headcount representing the most ‘at-risk’ students. SECOR organizes and packs bags of nutritious food and then delivers them to the schools during the week. The schools hand them out to each child before they leave for the weekend.

Individuals and Groups

For more information on the program or how you can support these at-risk children, please contact Monica, our Volunteer Coordinator.

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Our Food for Thought program wouldn’t be where it is today without our sponsors:

If your business or organization would like to sponsor our Food for Thought program, please Brie today!