Dear JA & Summit Families,
We know times are tough for many right now. With the loss of SNAP benefits for some and the added pressures of the holiday season, please know that you’re not alone. Our JA and Summit community continues to come together — showing care, compassion, and support for one another.
Holiday Care Package Program — Opens Monday, November 3
If your family is facing hardship, please complete the confidential needs form launching Monday. Packages may include gifts, essentials, and other items to help brighten the season. Look for the email Monday morning (and check your spam folder) or visit the Community Cares page at www.jajags.com/page/community-cares.
Mountainview Food Pantry — Open to All
We’re thrilled to expand our community support through a new partnership with Mountainview Church, the site of our recently purchased building (this is not a religious program).
The Food Pantry is open the first Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. No ID, no zip code requirement — simply come and receive a generous supply of groceries, no questions asked. The next pantry is this Saturday, November 1st, and all JA and Summit families are welcome. We’re also exploring adding an additional distribution day in the coming weeks after our food drive gains traction — stay tuned for details! For families unable to travel to the church, please contact Tiffany Flores directly, and we’ll coordinate food delivery or pickup support.
Ongoing Food Drive — November 3 through December 19
To help keep the Mountainview pantry stocked for families in need, we’ll be collecting donations across multiple campuses over an extended timeframe. We know this is a longer drive, but we want to make it easy for families to give when it works best for them — whether that’s before the holidays, after a break, or around different pay schedules. With many families facing ongoing challenges, this approach ensures continued support throughout the season.
Drop off shelf-stable food items in the designated bins at:
JA Elementary
JA Secondary
Summit Westminster
Prefer to give another way?
Drop off grocery gift cards (marked “Community Cares”) at any campus front desk — these allow us to quickly and discreetly assist families with urgent needs
Other Support & Resources
We want to recognize the many other ways our community is stepping up:
Summit South + Mosaic Church: Hosting a Canned Food Drive, Nov. 4–20 — students may bring non-perishable items to donate to Mosaic’s Food Bank.
JA Coal Creek Canyon PTO: Shared information about Whispering Pines Food Bank (Thursdays, 3–5 p.m.) and Canyon Cares for short-term assistance.
Community Cares page has additional support options — including other local food banks, county assistance programs, A Precious Child referrals, T-Mobile hotspot access, and our ongoing needs form for personalized help.
Supporting Our Community, Together
We know many other food drives and giving efforts are happening across our wonderful community. The Mountainview Food Drive initiative isn’t meant to compete — it’s meant to add to the network of resources available. If you’re already supporting other drives, please don’t feel obligated to contribute again. Our shared goal is simply to ensure every JA and Summit family has access to the care and support they need this season.
Please note: In addition to these efforts, our annual Holiday Care Package donation collection will run from November 17 through December 8, providing another meaningful way to give back this season.
Thank you for helping us continue to lift one another up — especially when it matters most. We’re proud to be part of such a generous and caring community.