More than 250 people came out Feb. 28 to Fuzzy's Taco Shop in Thornton to honor a Westminster single mother of three killed Feb. 14 in Arvada when an alleged drunken driver ran a stop light at Sheridan Boulevard and 80 Avenue.
Family members and friends, including North Metro Jaguars teammates, coaches and fellow “football moms,” packed the place to support the family of Monica Zapata, 40, who was driving west on 80 Avenue with her daughter, Jessica, when police say driver Jose Sandoval Cruz, 23, crashed his car into Zapata's. Jessica suffered minor injuries.
“We’re a community, a family, and it takes all of us to raise our children,” said Mark DeEsparza, an assistant with urban support group Denver DreamCenter and a friend of one of the youth football coaches. “And we came together for Monica to pay our respects, because she was part of that, and she’ll continue to be part of that in our memories and our hearts.”
The purpose of the benefit was to raise money for Zapata’s three children and help spread the word about a GoFundMe page (www.gofundme.com/zapatachildren).
Ninety people had raised nearly $4,000 in 13 days as of Feb. 29.
“I hope we make enough money so that (her) kids don’t have to worry about where their next meal is coming from or if there’s a roof over their head,” said Jennifer Eaves, who met Zapata as a fellow North Metro Jaguars football mom.
Eaves described Zapata as “very energetic. She was always positive, no matter what the situation was.”
Monetary donations are a big help, but need to be supplemented with community support, DeDesparza said.
“No one can take the place of their mother,” he said. “But you know what? They have a great community of people here that will be by them for many years to come.”
The outpouring of support at the benefit was indicative of what the children can expect moving forward, DeEsparza said.
“As devastating as it is, I’m grateful for the turnout,” he said. “It gives hope to the children, that there are a lot of people who will be here for many years to come to support them.”More than 250 people came out Feb. 28 to Fuzzy’s Taco Shop in Thornton to honor a Westminster single mother of three killed Feb. 14 in Arvada when an alleged drunken driver ran a stop light at Sheridan Boulevard and 80th Avenue.
Family members and friends, including North Metro Jaguars teammates, coaches and fellow “football moms,” packed the place to support the family of Monica Zapata, 40, who was driving west on 80th Avenue with her daughter, Jessica, when police say driver Jose Sandoval Cruz, 23, crashed his car into Zapata’s. Jessica suffered minor injuries.
“We’re a community, a family, and it takes all of us to raise our children,” said Mark DeEsparza, an assistant with urban support group Denver DreamCenter and a friend of one of the youth football coaches. “And we came together for Monica to pay our respects, because she was part of that, and she’ll continue to be part of that in our memories and our hearts.”
The purpose of the benefit was to raise money for Zapata’s three children and help spread the word about a GoFundMe page (www.gofundme.com/zapatachildren).
Ninety people had raised nearly $4,000 in 13 days as of Feb. 29.
“I hope we make enough money so that (her) kids don’t have to worry about where their next meal is coming from or if there’s a roof over their head,” said Jennifer Eaves, who met Zapata as a fellow North Metro Jaguars football mom.
Eaves described Zapata as “very energetic. She was always positive, no matter what the situation was.”
Monetary donations are a big help, but need to be supplemented with community support, DeDesparza said.
“No one can take the place of their mother,” he said. “But you know what? They have a great community of people here that will be by them for many years to come.”
The outpouring of support at the benefit was indicative of what the children can expect moving forward, DeEsparza said.
“As devastating as it is, I’m grateful for the turnout,” he said. “It gives hope to the children, that there are a lot of people who will be here for many years to come to support them.”
