Nearly 140 Beulah School of Natural Sciences students receive supplies to prepare for new school year after ‘Aspen Acres’ fire

PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- Students at the Beulah School of Natural Sciences received free backpacks and school supplies ahead of the new school year during a back-to-school giveaway organized by non-profit organization SHIELD616.

The event provided supplies for nearly 140 students following a summer marked by the "Aspen Acres" fire, which impacted families and destroyed homes in the Beulah area. The giveaway was aimed at helping local children and parents return to a sense of routine after weeks of displacement and wildfire concerns.

First responders joined the community gathering, with members of the Beulah Fire Department cooking hot dogs and representatives from the Colorado Springs Police Department handing out sports balls.

They also played games with attending students. Students at the school expressed relief and excitement during the event after dealing with a difficult summer.

Louis, a fifth grade student, described what it was like living through the wildfire threats.

“It was like crazy and like intense and we were really worried for our friends who live out here,” Louis said.

Another student, fourth grader, Oliver, enjoyed receiving equipment from local emergency responders.

“I like the soccer ball because it's signed by every firefighter and cop here. I think that's pretty cool,” Oliver said.

For many families, the event provided a welcome gathering after prolonged uncertainty during the "Aspen Acres" fire. Heikei Kovacich, whose grandson attends the Beulah School of Natural Sciences, recalled the difficulties of being displaced from home.

“We lived in a hotel for several weeks with the dogs and had no clue what our house looked like. No clue what we were coming back to, when we got to come back, if we got to come back,” Kovacich said.

Local parent and community member Vanessa Cruz noted the relief of seeing neighbors gathered together.

“It's really good to come together as a community because everybody was worried,” Cruz said. “You know, we didn't know if the school was going to be here. So to see everybody here having a good time and smiling at me, it's really great.”

School administrators and community leaders emphasized the importance of support systems as families recover. Perry Rogers, the principal of the school, highlighted the broader connection the event fostered.

“It's super important because it helps the kids understand that we are connected to to the rest of the world,” Rogers said.

Jake Skifstad, founder and president of SHIELD616, noted that supporting students is part of a longer recovery effort.

“It's going to take a lot of people for this recovery,” Skifstad said. “And we are just a small tip of that iceberg helping these families get back to, you know, normal life. And I think it's so important to get these kids back into school to have some consistency, have something that is normal to them.”

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