Northglenn thornton sentinel 0213

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February 13, 2014

50 cents Adams County, Colorado | Volume 50, Issue 27 A publication of

northglenn-thorntonsentinel.com

Program aims to reduce child hunger Kids Cafe hosted at several Adams County sites By Tammy Kranz

tkranz@coloradocommunitymedia.com Several sites in Adams County are hosting Kids Café, a program aimed at reducing hunger. Nearly one in seven Coloradans do not know where their next meal will come from, according to the Food Bank of the Rockies, who runs the Kids Café program. The Food Bank estimates that about 160,000 children in its service area struggle with hunger. “During the school year, they’re getting lunch at school and they go home and may not have any food for dinner,” said Janie Gianotsos, director of marketing and community relations with the Food Bank. “Everything from your body to your brain needs food to grow. That’s why we do this program.” The sites that host Kids Café either do a hot meal or pre-packaged meal, which offers food that doesn’t have to be refrigerated or warmed up. The Northglenn Recreation Center, 11801 Community Center Drive, offers the pre-packaged meals. “I am very fortunate to work for a city that identifies the needs of the community, and when the Food Bank of the Rockies (FBR) approached us I had the support of the City Council and my supervisors to pursue this awesome opportunity,” Deb Lawson, recreation supervisor at the city of Northglenn said. Northglenn started hosting the program last spring at the Recreation Center. To get a sack lunch, all a child has to do is stop at the front desk from 5-6 p.m. weekdays or 11 a.m. to noon Saturdays. On a daily average, Gianotsos said 27 children received sack lunches at the Recreation Center location.

NEWS TIPS

“Every hungry kid is important,” she said. “One hungry child is one too many.” Any child under 18 can get a meal at a site that hosts the Kids Café program; it does not matter where they live. While the sites do not ask for proof of residence, Gianotsos said that some of the sites, such

as the Boys & Girls Club, may require membership. The Food Bank has 119 sites that host the Kids Café program, 18 of those locations are in Adams County. Along with the Northglenn Recreation Center, other close by sites offering the program include Anythink Hu-

ron, 9417 Huron St. in Thornton; Anythink Perl Mack, 7611 Hilltop Circle in Denver; Anythink York, 8990 York St. in Thornton; Federal Heights Community Center, 2820 W. 92nd Ave. in Federal Heights; and Mountain Terrace, 3650 W. 84th Ave. in Westminster.

Florists prep for busiest day of year By Tammy Kranz

tkranz@coloradocommunitymedia.com

POSTAL ADDRESS

Do you see something newsworthy? The Sentinel welcomes your news tips about possible story ideas. Let us know about it at newstip@ coloradocommunitymedia.com

The Food Bank of the Rockies has 18 sites in Adams County that hosts its Kids Café program, which provides meals for children. Photo contributed by Food Bank of the Rockies

Franklin Mera works on a flower arrangement in his shop, Artistic Flowers & Gifts, last week. Mera began preparing for the busiest day of the year for him, Valentine’s Day, weeks ago. Photo by Tammy Kranz

Franklin Mera, and his wife Julie Evans Mera, are too busy on Valentine’s Day to worry about their own romance. In fact, Feb. 14 is Franklin’s birthday, but for the last 30 years, the best he can hope for on that day is a good lunch. “It’s really hard to do anything,” Evans Mera said. “Basically, I bring him a steak lunch.” The couple owns Artistic Flowers & Gifts, a full service florist operation at 6821 N. Broadway. Even though they prepare weeks in advance for Valentine’s Day — placing orders with farmers for the

flowers, lining up extra help at the shop — there’s no preparing for those procrastinators (yes, mostly men). “They wait until the last minute, Valentine’s Day, to come in or call,” Mera said. Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day are the busiest times for florists, Mera said, but Mother’s Day is spread out over a week. “Valentine’s Day is only a oneday headache,” he said, chuckling. Customers can order from a variety of arrangements — Enchanted Love, Cotton Candy Valentine, My Purple Hearts, Over the Blue Horizon — featuring different bouquets of lilies, orchids, roses, Florist continues on Page 11

NORTHGLENN-THORNTON SENTINEL (ISSN 1044-4254) (USPS 854-980) OFFICE: 8703 Yates DR., Ste. 210 Westminster, CO 80031 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Adams County, Colorado, the Northglenn-Thornton Sentinel is published weekly on Thursday by MetroNorth Newspapers, 7380 Lowell Blvd., Westminster, CO 80030. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT WESTMINSTER, COLORADO. 6x1.75_BringAppetite_Layout 1 2/3/14 11:15 AM Page 1 POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 8703 Yates DR., Ste. 210 Westminster, CO 80031 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. | Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Tues. 12 p.m.

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BRING YOUR APPETITE! FEBRUARY 22 - 28

DenverRestaurantWeek.com #denverYUM


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