The people who spend their days helping others sometimes need a little help themselves. Two Davis School District employees recently received an unexpected reminder that their work matters when the Homes for Heroes Foundation donated $5,000 to help them through difficult circumstances.
The donation was presented at Farmington Junior High School by Jay Flynn, Foundation Director of the Homes for Heroes Foundation, who traveled from North Carolina for the presentation. Farmington Junior High School resource officer Kellie Varela and special education bus driver Sarah Lowder each received $2,500. Varela was selected after a series of unexpected emergencies left her facing a growing stack of bills. Lowder recently lost everything in a fire at her home. Both women spend their days serving students, and the donation provided meaningful financial support during challenging times.
The Davis Education Foundation typically uses donations to support its mission of improving the lives of Davis School District students. Donors can specifically designate their gifts for other purposes, as was the case with the Homes for Heroes donation. A contribution directly benefiting employees is extremely rare for the foundation, making this $5,000 gift particularly meaningful and very much appreciated.
Homes for Heroes was founded after 9/11 with a mission of giving back to those who serve their communities, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, military members, health care professionals and teachers. In Davis School District, that spirit of gratitude came full circle as two women who dedicate their time to serving students were reminded that their community is willing to stand behind them when they need it most.