Reaching Out To Community And Kids

REACHING OUT TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY AND KIDS BY PROVIDING RESOURCES SUCH AS FOOD, SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.

REACHING OUT TO COMMUNITY AND KIDS (ROCK) FOOD SERVICES: CARE AND SHARE FOOD DISTRIBUTIONSROCK CONTINUED MONTHLY FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS THROUGHOUT 2023 WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE CARE AND SHARE FOOD BANK. BETWEEN JANUARY AND DECEMBER, ROCK SERVED AN AVERAGE OF 121 FOOD BOXES THROUGH DRIVE-THROUGH DISTRIBUTION. EACH BOX HAS NUTRITIOUS MAKINGS FOR 7 MEALS FOR A FAMILY OF 4; OR 40,796 MEALS FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR. NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER DISTRIBUTIONS INCLUDED A HAM FOR THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS. FOR ALL OF OUR DISTRIBUTIONS, VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO HELP SHOP, PACKAGE, AND DISTRIBUTE THE FOOD BOXES.WEEKEND BREAKFASTROCK SERVED SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN WEEKEND HEALTHY AND NUTRITIOUS BREAKFASTS BETWEEN JUNE AND JULY. BREAKFASTS WERE PASSED OUT ON THURSDAY AFTERNOONS FROM THE ROCK BUILDING. ROCK DISTRIBUTED A TOTAL OF 384 BREAKFASTS TO AN AVERAGE OF 16 CHILDREN PER WEEK.SCHOOL SNACK PROGRAMROCKS SCHOOL SNACK PROGRAM DISTRIBUTES A HEALTHY SNACK EVERY SCHOOL DAY TO ALL PRE-K THROUGH 5TH GRADE STUDENTS WITHIN THE DOLORES COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT RE-2J AND BEYOND THE NEST LEARNING CENTER. APPROXIMATELY 8107 SNACKS WERE DISTRIBUTED OVER THE SPRING AND FALL OF 2023 SCHOOL WITH AN AVERAGE 96 GRADE-SCHOOL STUDENTS SERVED EVERY SCHOOL DAY.SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAMROCKS SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM FED TWO NUTRITIOUS AND BALANCED HOT LUNCHES A WEEK TO CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 0-18 AT THE ROCK BUILDING. IN 2023, 257 LUNCHES WERE SERVED WITH AN AVERAGE OF 42 YOUTH SERVED PER WEEK FOR 6 WEEKS.

REACHING OUT TO COMMUNITY AND KIDS (ROCK) YEARLY EVENTS: 11TH ANNUAL EASTER EGG DASHTHE EASTER EGG DASH SERVED 114 EASTER EGG BASKETS TO CHILDREN. 48 FAMILIES CAME TOGETHER TO SEARCH FOR PLASTIC EGGS THAT HAD CANDY AND/OR MONEY IN EACH ONE, PLAY GAMES, AND GET THEIR FACE PAINTED. EACH BASKET WAS PREPARED BY ROCK VOLUNTEERS. 9TH ANNUAL SCHOOL SUPPLY DISTRIBUTIONIN 2023, ROCK DISTRIBUTED SUPPLIES TO DOLORES COUNTY AND EGNAR, CO CHILDREN AGED PRE-K THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. 57 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS RECEIVED SUPPLIES SPECIFICALLY FOR ENGLISH AND MATH. ROCK PASSED OUT SUPPLIES TO 53 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, 92 GRADE SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND 8 PRE-K STUDENTS. A TOTAL OF 210 STUDENTS RECEIVED SUPPLIES. AT THE SAME TIME WE DISTRIBUTED SCHOOL SUPPLIES, WE ALSO HAD A COMMUNITY CELEBRATION TO KICK OFF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.THE 11TH HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR CARNIVAL (TRUNK OR TREAT)ROCKS 2023 SPOOKTACULAR CARNIVAL TOOK PLACE AS A TRUNK-OR-TREAT CARNIVAL AGAIN THIS YEAR. 10 VEHICLES, INCLUDING THE LOCAL AMBULANCE, SHERIFF, AND SEARCH AND RESCUE CREATED CARNIVAL GAMES WITH THEIR VEHICLES AND PARKING SPACES FOR OUR YOUTH. THE SENIOR CLASS ALSO CREATED A KID-FRIENDLY OUTSIDE HAUNTED HOUSE. WE SERVED 93 YOUTH AND CHILDREN, AND 43 FAMILIES. WE ALSO HAD 35 VOLUNTEERS HELP WITH THIS EVENT.ROCK THE HOLIDAYSONE OF ROCKS LARGEST EVENTS IS BRINGING SANTA TO TOWN. IT IS A LARGE COMMUNITY APPRECIATION CELEBRATION THAT HAS A FREE CHILI DINNER, S'MORES, AND HOT CHOCOLATE. YOUTH GET TO SEE SANTA AND RECEIVE FREE HATS AND GLOVES, AND EVERYONE WHO ATTENDS ENJOYS THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS AND SINGING CHRISTMAS CAROLS. THIS YEAR 150 CHILDREN SAW SANTA AND 80 FAMILIES ATTENDED THE EVENT.15TH ANNUAL ANGEL TREE PROGRAMTHE ANGEL TREE PROGRAM REACHES OUT TO FAMILIES WHO NEED HELP PUTTING GIFTS UNDER THE TREE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. IN 2023, VOLUNTEERS COORDINATED, WRAPPED, AND DISTRIBUTED GIFTS TO 100 LOW INCOME CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. EACH ANGEL RECEIVED FILLED STOCKINGS AND DONATED GIFTS FROM THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND EACH FAMILY RECEIVED A FOOD BOX THAT INCLUDED A HAM AND ALL THE MAKINGS FOR A HOLIDAY DINNER, 59 VOLUNTEERS DONATED GIFTS AND TIME FOR THIS PROGRAM.7TH ANNUAL GOLDEN ANGEL DISTRIBUTIONIN 2023, ROCK AND ROCK VOLUNTEERS DELIVERED 109 FOOD BOXES TO OUR SENIOR CITIZENS IN 24 HOUSEHOLDS. THEY ALSO RECEIVED A HOT HOMEMADE TURKEY DINNER WITH ALL THE SIDES AND FIXINGS INCLUDING A FULL TURKEY BREAST AND PUMPKIN PIE. THE SENIORS ALSO RECEIVED GIFTS OF WARM SOCKS, GLOVES, LOTIONS AND TREATS. ABOUT 20 VOLUNTEERS COME TOGETHER FOR THIS EVENT TO SHOP, COOK, PACKAGE, AND DELIVER THE ITEMS.

YOUTH ENRICHMENT SERVICES (YES) & COMMUNITY OUTREACH: YOUTH HANGOUT ROCKS HANGOUT WAS HELD TWICE A WEEK THROUGH MID AUGUST 2023. 10-12 YEAR OLDS COME ON FRIDAYS AND 13+ ON SATURDAYS. YOUTH GATHER TO ENJOY SNACKS WHILE BEING ENCOURAGED TO PLAY GAMES AND HANG OUT WITH FRIENDS IN A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. ROCK ENCOURAGES SCREEN-FREE TIME AND POSITIVE INTERACTIONS. ROCK SERVED 332 YOUTH AGED 10-12 AND 194 YOUTH AGED 13-18. ROCK SERVED AN AVERAGE OF 65 YOUTH PER MONTH.YOUTH SKILLS ROCKS YOUTH SKILLS GROUPS ARE OFFERED ONCE A WEEK FOR 6 WEEKS OVER THE SUMMER. AGES 6-18 ARE WELCOME. THE SKILLS TAUGHT VARIED FROM CPR, COOKING, MONEY SKILLS, TO SURVIVAL SKILLS. IN 2023, WE HAD A TOTAL OF 128 YOUTH ATTEND, WITH AN AVERAGE OF 21 KIDS ATTENDING WEEKLY.YOUTH ART CLASSESART CLASSES ARE OFFERED ONCE A WEEK FOR 6 WEEKS OVER THE SUMMER FOR AGES 6-18. THE CLASSES EXPLORE DIFFERENT TOPICS, MEDIUMS, AND APPROACHES AND WE DISPLAY THE CHILDRENS ARTWORK IN THE ROCK BUILDING YEAR ROUND. ROCK SERVED A TOTAL OF 129 YOUTH WITH APPROXIMATELY 22 YOUTH ATTENDING PER WEEK OVER THE COURSE OF THE 6 WEEKS.ADULT ART CLASSES ROCK OFFERED 5 ADULT ART CLASSES IN 2023 AND WAS OPEN TO ANY DOLORES COUNTY RESIDENT 18 OR OLDER. THE CLASSES WERE TAUGHT BY LOCAL PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS AT THE ROCK BUILDING. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES A SAFE, CREATIVE OUTLET FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND GROW AS INDIVIDUALS. IN 2023, WE SERVED OVER 50 ADULTS AND HAD AN AVERAGE ATTENDANCE OF 10 ADULTS FOR EACH ART CLASS.YOUTH MUSIC LESSONSROCK IS OFFERING PROFESSIONAL 1:1 GUITAR LESSONS IN THE ROCK BUILDING EVERY WEEK. OVER THE YEAR, 14 YOUTH AND 5 ADULTS WERE TAKING LESSONS EACH MONTH. DUPLICATED NUMBERS INCLUDE SERVING 174 YOUTH AND 26 ADULTS OVER THE COURSE OF 2023. A SPRING RECITAL PERFORMED AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER ALSO HAD 17 YOUTH AND 6 ADULT PARTICIPANTS.ELEMENTARY BOOK VENDING MACHINEROCK TEAMED WITH ATMOS ENERGY FOR A BOOK VENDING MACHINE IN THE DOLORES COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. OVER THE FALL OF 2023, 210 BOOKS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO CHILDREN. STUDENTS EARNED THESE BOOKS IN A VARIETY OF WAYS AND WERE ALSO ABLE TO GET A BOOK AT CHRISTMAS TIME.