As of March 2011, Kids Pasta Project (KPP), an ingenious collaboration between kids, adults and local farms and businesses, is celebrating two years of serving delicious dinners to area residents. After months of planning and several practice meals, KPP held their first official dinner on the first Monday of April, 2009.The group has continued hosting events ever since. Dinners are held nearly every Monday at the lovely Scenic Mesa Ranch near Hotchkiss and registration is required by the Sunday immediately prior to the meal. Each dinner includes freshly-made salad, pasta, meatballs and dessert, and uses as much local produce as possible. Seating is between 6-6:30 pm. Ticket prices are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $8 for children.
The mission of KPP is to provide a way for area youth to serve their communities and learn important life skills in the process. Along with learning firsthand about the value of community service, the kids also develop teamwork, creativity and problem- solving abilities. Profits from the dinners are given to local groups and causes. In addition, the kids make an annual KPP Building Bridges Service Award. The most recent winner, announced in January 2011, is the Pickin' in the Park free summer music program in Ridgway.
One special part of the KPP mission is to make the program sustainable, adaptable and transferable to any other community. The hope of the group is that their work of community service and support of local groups will spread.
The following is a list of the upcoming KPP dinners for March along with the community organization being sponsored:
- March 7, 2011 - The Paonia Public Library kids' after school book club
- March 14 - Mountain Harvest Festival
- TBD
- March 28 - North Fork Theatre Productions
Any local group interested in becoming a partner-recipient of a KPP dinner is encouraged to fill out an application and send it to KPP, or mail it to P.O. Box 21, Hotchkiss, CO 81419, or call 970.872.7685.
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