Stigmattack: Our Food Partnership with Denver Public Schools

with Audrey at DSST Cole Unloading Produce Boxes

Stigmattack! That’s what we call our full-frontal food offensive against hunger with the Denver Public Schools with which we work. A few weeks ago, we shared the story of our partnership with the LoVVe project to bring healthy and delicious food to students and families at Ellis Elementary. At Stigma, we are proud to be partnering with two DPS high schools as well.

RiseUp Community School near Five Points is engaging students who have struggled to engage with their own educational process in the past. They are making great strides, and the food program at RiseUp is an integral part of their community-building efforts.

Katie Davis, and other administrators and staff at RiseUp, deliver food to the homes of students and families engaged in their food relief program. The deliveries include grass fed/grass finished beef, ground pork, local honey, fresh fruits and ripe vegetables. The food we supply RiseUp for their home-delivery program helps sustain the connection with these kids who deserve an equitable education.

We are also in partnership with the Denver School of Science and Technology high school in the Cole neighborhood of Denver. School social worker, and the driving force behind the food pantry, Audrey Harriger, has built a much-needed assistance program. At DSST Cole, their weekly food pantry serves upwards of 100 families, and our fresh and local meats, fruits and veggies are at the center of the food distribution. This is a huge demand, and we are proud to be attacking the stigma, and delivering the food these families need.

This truly is neighbors helping neighbors. No stigma. No “us,” and no “them.” We are all people trying to thrive, educationally and nutritionally.

And we couldn’t do any of this without the support of stigma fighters like you!

Published by Matt Salis

Matt Salis is a high-functioning alcoholic in recovery who is working to end the stigma associated with addiction and related conditions such as homelessness and mental illness.