HOPE Coalition Gearing Up for Youth Bicycling Program

Hall Offers a Helping Hand

The Coalition members for Partners for HOPE decided in favor of an outdoor BBQ on Thursday evening, March 28^th, replacing the usual chili supper fundraising event held in the fall.  Byron Hall, Coalition president, said the event will still seek fundraising opportunities and will include a silent auction during the evening which will run from 6 to 8pm at the Lincoln School on North 10^th Street.

Hall noted that bike enthusiasts and students are becoming involved with the Pedal the Plains, three day event, set for September 13-15 in Lamar, Holly and Springfield this fall. A number of students participate in the on-going bicycle repair program held at Lincoln School, learning how to repair and build new bicycles out of the box.  Bryon commented, “We are putting together a youth cycling program.  We plan to begin training with Lamar High School after the daylight savings time change in March.  We should see some riders go up to 30 miles on a course, but we’ll also have shorter distances as well.  We plan to open this up to all kids in the area.” Hall said adults will be included in the program, but not as official riders, just for fun and encouragement.  A lot of the equipment will be donated and students can earn some their gear through the miles they have ridden.

He said he’s also excited about the possibility of bringing a future professional skateboarder to Lamar for a one-day training session at the skateboard facility at Willow Creek Park. “The skateboarder is Aaron Kyro who has a national following and his own website.  Pending his schedule, he should be able to spend a day in Lamar sometime to work with area kids.  He knows about the park and a lot of students know about him.”  Hall said he’d have more details in the future.

One Step Up students have been working on a comprehensive nutritional, food-cooking program, planning a meal for upwards of 40 people in the near future. Students have been learning to mix nutrition with value shopping at local grocery stores, working on a budget and a prepared menu.  A family oriented food magazine, Chop Chop, gets a lot of use as it contains user-friendly menus on a student’s level, plus other food facts.  Four teams are planning to host these cooking programs through the end of the year.

Lori Hammer, HOPE Center, executive director, noted a number of donations that had been received since the start of the year including $5,000 from Colorado Mills and from Community State Bank, $4,500 from Frontier Bank and Wyganent Trust.  Other donations were received from Living Covenant Ministries at $200 for December and January, $100 from Prowers Medical Center, $500 from Lamar Christian Church, $300 from the Prowers County District Attorney’s office, $1,000 from Southeast Colorado Power, $100 from United Methodist Women and $2,750 from Ark Valley Association Underwriters.  The next Coalition meeting will be held Monday, February 25^th.

By Russ Baldwin