In the midst of a historic government shutdown, the students and staff at DSST: GVR Middle School have made their way into the news with generosity and thoughtfulness. Close to Denver International Airport, GVR shares a community with many of the TSA agents who continue to work tirelessly without pay. To support these government workers during this difficult time, 6th grade math teacher Shasta Smith started a food drive to which these students could contribute.
Over the past two weeks, GVR middle schoolers have collected over 17 boxes of food. As the shutdown drags on, concerned and dedicated students continue to fill the boxes with donated food.
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Students also took the time to write to the TSA agents, thanking them for working during the shutdown, ensuring that we all remain safe and travelers make their flight. In a clip from 9News last week, we saw how these donations and letters brought some TSA workers to tears.
With all of the news coverage, GVR has received calls from as far as Montana with people offering to help. This prompted them to create a GoFundMe, raising over $200. They plan on going to Costco to purchase more food, and are working to get Costco to match this donation as well.
But no good deed comes without its complications. Shasta worked with a TSA coordinator who helped navigate the intricacies of donating with the legal team. Legally, TSA agents cannot receive gifts. However, since the GVR students and staff were not travelers, they were able to arrange a time with the TSA agents to meet at the airport entrance doors and share their donations.
This wasn’t the first time the middle schoolers at GVR sprang to action in the face of adversity. Last year, students ran a food drive for victims of Hurricane Harvey. While the shutdown has been the top priority, we know that it’s only a matter of time before these generous citizens will find another worthy cause to rally behind!
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