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Pikes Peak Online School Staff and Student Volunteers United to Deliver Essential Support to Students Across Colorado

Stories & Spotlights
Two people stand in a gym holding wrapped gifts in red holiday-themed paper. Wrapping supplies and other volunteers are visible around the gym

While learning takes place online at Pikes Peak Online School (PPOS), the school’s commitment to its students extends far beyond the virtual classroom. In mid-December, a dedicated group of PPOS staff gathered in Castle Rock with a shared mission: to prepare and deliver essential items to students experiencing homelessness or housing instability across Colorado. 

Two people stand side by side in a gym, each holding a blue gift bag. Behind them are wrapped presents, storage cabinets, and a wall display with various items.

A Coordinated Effort to Meet Individual Needs 

The meeting brought together student support advisors, social workers, and family and community engagement staff who work year-round to support students facing unique challenges. As part of this coordinated effort, the team sorted and organized essential items for 107 PPOS students, ensuring each package reflected the specific needs of the student and family receiving it. 

Identifying and Fulfilling Urgent Needs 

Each year, PPOS McKinney-Vento Coordinator, Kim Ashby, personally connects with every identified family to assess their most urgent needs. Requests often include winter coats, shoes, socks, and other daily necessities that can become barriers to learning when left unmet. With the support of a generous anonymous donor, every item requested is purchased and provided at no cost to families. 

Turning Online Connections into In-Person Support 

What makes this initiative especially meaningful is the personal connection it creates. During the week of December 15, Pikes Peak Online School teachers and staff volunteered to hand-deliver these items throughout the state, turning online relationships into moments of face-to-face support and care. 

“Teachers and staff from across the state volunteer to deliver these items in person, creating a rare and meaningful opportunity for face-to-face connections with families we typically support online. By working together to organize, prepare, and deliver these packages, our team reinforces a sense of unity, compassion, and shared responsibility,” said Colorado Preparatory Academy and Pikes Peak Online School McKinney-Vento Coordinator, Kim Ashby. 

A person bends over a large group of filled black trash bags in a garage, attaching or checking labels on the bags. Shelving with storage items lines the back wall.

Strengthening a Community-Centered School Model  

For PPOS leadership, the initiative reflects the heart of the school’s community-centered approach. 

“This effort strengthens our school community in a powerful way, even within a virtual education model. It brings together students, families, staff, and our generous donor around a shared purpose, supporting and uplifting our McKinney-Vento students during a time that can be especially challenging,” said Amy Baranco. 

The annual gathering and statewide deliveries highlight the strength of Pikes Peak Online School’s support network and the compassion woven throughout its community. It is a powerful reminder that education is about more than instruction; it’s about care, connection, and showing up for students when it matters most. 

You can see where this story captured the hearts of those around our state in the news at: 

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