Fire has literally and metaphorically shaped the young life of Greeley West High School senior Sofia Vasquez.
Metaphorically, her family and friends say she has a fire in her, a passion to help those who need a light in their lives and a fire to blaze a path for equality for every human, especially for those who are unhoused.
Literally, fire has turned everything she owned into ash.
In July 2022, a month before her freshman year at Greeley West, Vasquez was living with her father, Cristobal, in his apartment. They had returned home from a day of shopping, and she was putting away her clothes. Suddenly, he ran up to her room, telling her there was a fire inside the apartment. He told her to grab whatever she could and get out.
“I thought everything was going to be OK,” she said. “I didn’t think it was that big of a deal.”
Panic shot through her body, but it was coated with a fragile feeling that everything was going to be fine. She grabbed a few books and her wallet, and got out.
Vasquez and her father made it out safely. As they stood outside awaiting fire crews, the fire roamed through their home. It not only destroyed their possessions, but also her sense that everything was going to be OK.
“It was heartbreaking,” she said. “I’ve never seen my dad cry like that. I was like … ‘Did I just lose everything? My clothes and bed?’ ”
Once the flames were exhausted, the smoke cleared and the reality of being close to homelessness presented itself; she didn’t lament on what happened.
Her mother, Angela Bejar, said that fire fueled something within her daughter.
An idea sprouted from the ashes. The literal fire fueled her with the passion she now uses to help all walks of life.
Her idea was to help those who had lost more than the fire stole from her. It was to help those who may not have had a home in years. Her idea was the Supply Box Initiative.
Vasquez came up with the idea during her sophomore year. The Supply Box Initiative would provide clothing, feminine products, toiletries and other items to the community’s homeless population.
Of course, it took a while to make it a reality. She wanted to ensure The Supply Box Initiative helped as many people as it could, so she stewed on the idea for a few years.
Earlier this year, her idea got a serendipitous break. Vasquez, her mom and a friend had lunch together. Vasquez started talking about her idea, and the friend suggested she reach out to Bridgette Kuhagen, who founded NOCO Friends of Faith. The nonprofit provides food, water, clothing and other basic needs to the local homeless community four times per week.
Vasquez contacted Kuhagen, who put her in contact with a nonprofit consultant.
At Orenda Consulting, Sara Myers helps people nonprofits by providing networking opportunities, resources and guidance through the process of obtaining their 501(c)(3) standing. That standing allows nonprofits to receive tax-deductible donations and be eligible for grants and other funding opportunities.
When Vasquez, Myers and Bejar met for the first time earlier this year, they got straight to work. They drove around Greeley and Evans, handing out toiletries, hygiene and feminine products to the homeless. Myers said the trio was in tears after they finished.
“She has a really big heart,” Myers said. “I saw a lot of fire in her eyes. She genuinely wants to make a difference and help the community.”
Myers said Vasquez came into her life at the right time because of the inspiration and drive she harnesses, which has bolstered Myers’ drive to help others in the nonprofit world.
After the tears cleared, Myers and Vasquez discussed getting The Supply Box Initiative ready to become an official nonprofit. As of now, Vasquez is waiting to hear from the federal government about her 501(c)(3) standing. Myers said there is no timetable for when she’ll hear back on that, but Vasquez can still operate it while waiting.
“I think a lot of times we overlook the local community and the local things that are happening (because they) get overshadowed with a bigger picture, but I think she has a fire to go out and do great things,” Myers said.
Vasquez’s drive to help others became apparent at an early age, Bejar said.
When Vasquez was in second grade at Maplewood Elementary School, she noticed her best friend didn’t have as much as the other children. She had many siblings and lived with her grandparents.
“I began to examine that and I began to question why she was experiencing that and why other people weren’t,” Vasquez said.
Vasquez approached her mother about helping her friend and their family days before Christmas.
Soon, Vasquez and Bejar had collected donations to purchase bikes, clothes, shoes and food for the family. Bejar said JBS even donated meat so the family could enjoy a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.
“To me, it showed that she was all heart. She has a giving heart,” Bejar said. “She recognized that there are less fortunate people.”
Vasquez credits that recognition to her father. While growing up, he frequently took her to the library. There, she did her best “Matilda” impersonation and read as many books as possible.
Those books showed her historical figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. Their stories fueled her curiosity and conversations with her father about issues and current events.
During her freshman year, she continued such conversations with David Falter, a social studies teacher at Greeley West. Their chats about global issues came naturally.
But it wasn’t until weeks after the fire at Vasquez’s home that they finally spoke about what was happening in her own world.
She asked if she could turn in assignments late, signaling to him that something was off in her life. Vasquez said her father was living in and out of hotel rooms after the fire, and he didn’t want her living like that while going to school. So she lived with her mother.
Falter felt bad for her but marveled at how poised she was during that time.
“As a teacher, you go, ‘Dang, girl, you battled through all that stuff on your own essentially. You’re amazing,’ ” Falter said.
With her senior year underway, Vasquez understands the reality of having those in-depth worldly conversations with Falter is fleeting, as is her time with family and friends. She knows college applications, college essays and interviews will take most of her time, as well as her general school work. She’s taking a cultural anthropology class at Aims Community College, too. She said anthropology is her “jam.”
No matter the late nights and early mornings she has in front of her, though, she’s making it a priority to savor the little things high school brings and the big moments life gives her with her family and friends.
“She has put pressure on herself over the years, but now she’s able to separate pleasure from taking care of business,” Bejar said.
Soon, Vasquez will apply to some of the most prestigious colleges in the country. From Ivy League schools to the University of California, Berkeley, she knows what’s ahead of her. She has a 4.5 GPA, and her resume has a slew of clubs, achievements and references she’s amassed over the years.
The clubs she has been involved with and is currently involved include the National Honor Society, the Mexican American Studies Society, the Greeley Youth Commission and many more.
Looking ahead, Vasquez can see herself being a lobbyist, sitting on a city council, working in Congress or being a trailblazer for those whose voices need amplifying. She feels she was born with the desire to help others — work that helps heal her as well.
“I definitely think it’s a part of me,” Vasquez said. “I think it heals a certain part of my past traumas by helping people in a sense. And just being economically disadvantaged. Especially growing up and living with my dad. I feel like it heals that part of me.”
Despite everything she has done, she battles doubts that are familiar to many her age. She’s wondered about what will come if she doesn’t get into the right school or if her plans don’t work out.
Her mom and Falter reassured her everything will be OK.
“Sofia, if you don’t get that opportunity, then it’s their loss,” Falter said. “That doesn’t change anything you’re going through. So you don’t intern in this person’s office, that’s not going to set you back.”
Falter said every freshman has every door available to them when it comes to their future. Over the next four years, it’s about doing what’s necessary to keep them open. So his advice to her and other seniors is simple.
“Don’t stress about when you hear no. Keep working towards more yeses,” he said.
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