MOTIVATED TEENS

Palisade High School has many wonderful students doing great work in the community. I was honored to learn more about what friends and International Baccalaureate program sophomores Tilly Stephens-Marner and Sara Babnic are doing to help others. They partnered with the international nonprofit organization, Create for Kids (www. createforkids.org), to start Colorado’s first chapter this past August.

Other students soon joined them and now a group of 20 motivated teens meet weekly over lunch and brainstorm various ways to help children who are hospitalized at St. Mary’s Regional Hospital and their families. Having a child in the hospital is incredibly stressful and Create for Kids focuses on ways to help ease some of the challenges. According to their website, they “believe that art is a vital component of the healing process, and we strive to create a nurturing environment that promotes creativity and smiles.”

This group of students and their supportive sponsoring teacher, Ms. Jillian Geis, have done various fundraisers and activities in which toys are brought to children, uplifting cards are made and the importance of the arts and creativity are focused upon. Now they are getting ready for their biggest fundraiser of the year in honor of Stephens-Marner’s brother. It’s going to be called “In Remembrance of Logan: The Power of Food” and they plan to make it an annual activity. This will combine Create for Kids’ focus on the visual arts with Stephens-Marner’s love of the culinary arts.

The fundraiser will also be in partnership with Fidel’s Cocina & Bar in Palisade and the Rose Hill Hospitality House. Fidel’s will be making a delicious meal to bring to the families staying at Rose Hill. Located across the street from St. Mary’s Regional Hospital, they offer temporary lodging for out-of-town guests to stay while their loved one is getting care. Last year, they helped more than 1,800 people from 41 states and 8 different countries. Having a hot meal brought to them is such a special way to help these people during difficult times. The students at Palisade High School are also hoping to make gift baskets with toys and snacks in them for the families.

Stephens-Marner knows firsthand about tremendous stress and loss. Her older sister, Destry, died of a heart condition at 4 years old. (The beautiful butterfly lake at Los Colonias was built in honor of this precious little one.) Her older brother, Logan, died unexpectedly in an accident last year. Both of these losses have impacted Stephens-Marner deeply and inspired her to help others. She told me that Logan was “one of the best people I’ve ever met” and that she knew she wanted to do something to put more good in the world in his honor.

The fundraiser will be held on Logan’s upcoming birthday, April 25. I was moved to tears when the wise Stephens-Marner told me, “We have such a short time and none of it is guaranteed.” She said her brother was full of light and was “the ultimate optimist.”

I was privileged to know Logan, Destry and their loving family. I’ve watched Tilly grow into an incredibly intelligent, kind and delightful young woman. (I even wrote about her in The Daily Sentinel on August 22, 2022 when she was chosen to be a cook for America’s Test Kitchen – Kids.) In a world where so many people see the worst, she has chosen to see the best and to help others in times of need. The friendship between her and the talented artist Babnic is a wonderful combination and an inspiration for so many people.

All of these students, their teacher, and the organizations that are assisting them are helping to shine light into the world. I love that they are taking concrete action to bring joy and hope to others. To learn how you can donate to this important work, you can email them at createforkidspalisade@gmail.com. These monetary donations will help pay for this and future endeavors. Be sure to give your loved ones an extra hug and remember to cherish each day.

If you have any food and beverage-related events or information you want readers to know about, please email me at AllThingsFood-Christine@gmail.com.

This beautiful photo of Logan was taken by his mom, Palisade artist, Erin Marner-Stephens. (Courtesy photo)

Rose Hill Hospitality House will be the beneficiary of an upcoming fundraiser to provide meals and gift baskets for families staying there. (Christine Gallagher photo)

Sara Babnic, left, and Tilly Marner-Stephens, right, started a chapter of Create for Kids in Palisade and are currently working on a fundraiser with fellow students and their teacher. (Courtesy photo)

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