12 » Friday, August 20, 2021
epnews.com
Bright Christmas Provides School Supplies By: Estes Park Nonprofit Resource Center
can we support each other?” Bright Christmas has been supporting families with children who need some help for 37 years. This guiding principle helps them decide what projects to fund. Their flagship program is providing a “Bright Christmas” of gifts and
The Estes Park Nonprofit Resource Center inspires, connects, and supports nonprofits. We were out around town and ran into Bright Christmas, busy at work assembling backpacks full of school supplies. Bright Christmas believes all students should start school on an equal playing field. Financial need should not deter anyone from having the same opportunities to absorb, record, engage in their education, and present their learning. Nancy Gregg is the Vice President of Bright Christmas, an organizaTo this end, tion that has been busy organizing its annual school supply drive to they have de- support students that could use a leg up starting the school year with veloped a the tools they need. program in food for local families. During COVID, collaboration with the schools and supthey funded new installation and ampliported by community members. Local businesses MedX and Ace Hardware of- fication of internet services: they paid the monthly fee for the service and partfer their locations as collection sites for nered with Airbits, who donated staff donated supplies. The entire program time and technology to install the costs roughly $4500. Some of this is routers. funded by donated supplies, and cash donations make up the rest. The output Last year, they partnered with the of this program is 110 bags that contain schools to provide financial support and grade-specific supplies, which range incentive to students in seeking counselfrom notebooks and binders to pens and ing services. Mental health support for headphones. youth who continue to endure the social side effects of the pandemic is essential. The program is executed in collaboraBright Christmas’ financial support is tion with Crossroads, which serves as a another tool for teachers and adminisregistration and distribution center. trators who believe students might benFamilies with students that need assisefit from additional support outside of tance with school supplies can contact Crossroads at 970-577-0610 for more in- school. formation. Bright Christmas is a 501(c)(3) nonNancy Gregg of Bright Christmas says, profit organization 100% funded by individual donations. Checks can be “Providing school supplies is an oppormailed to Bright Christmas, PO Box tunity for neighbors to help neighbors. 2981. We are all in the same community; how