A festive atmosphere filled the air outside Cosmo’s Pizza on a sunny afternoon in May, as police sirens sounded and lights flashed, signaling the joyous occasion of the Last Fling Lunch.
Students from Denver North High School, Skinner Middle School, Centennial Elementary School, and Columbian Elementary School gathered to mark the end of the school year in a celebration that featured presentations from local emergency responders and plenty of pizza.
Cosmo’s Pizza, located on Federal Boulevard, hosts the Last Fling Lunch event twice a year, once each in the fall and spring. According to owner Bob Marek, the event is a way to support the community that has helped their business thrive.
“It all started, opening the restaurant, wanting to be a part of the community, and it really spawned and grew from there,” Marek explained. “It really is part of our corporate value of giving back to the community.”
The event gave students, including those in special education programs, the chance to engage with local fire and police teams. Participants could explore police vehicles, climb aboard fire trucks, and even spray a fire hose. Local emergency responders showcased new technologies, including drones used in fire rescue operations.
Captain Luis Cedillo found it heartwarming to see the children engaging with the fire rigs, providing them with experiences they might not have encountered otherwise. He emphasized the importance of interactions like these, which foster trust and respect between emergency responders and the community.
“It provides insight to those kids about what firefighters do, how we work, and they get to see the actual engine and throw some water,” Cedillo noted. “What we’re trying to do is create trust and respect between us, and even PD. It’s helping us bring more collaboration between the Department of Public Safety and the community.”
The event also offered inspiration for those who might consider a future in public safety, Cedillo added, but ultimately, it was about giving kids a space to be curious and have fun.
Litzy Canche, a paraprofessional at Centennial Elementary School, pointed out that students with developmental disabilities often struggle to participate in public events, as accommodations can be challenging for their families. The Last Fling Lunch provides an opportunity for these students to experience new things in a supportive environment.
Canche emphasized the importance of challenging special needs students in the same manner as their peers without disabilities. “There is so much more that you don’t know that they can do, and when you push them to that, then they can accomplish,” she said.
She expressed concern over the misconceptions that lead to the unjust judgment of individuals based solely on their physical characteristics.
“You don’t know what you’re looking at because our eyes cannot see inside of anybody’s brain, and we don’t know what’s going on in there,” Canche remarked. “Approaching everything with an open mind and an open heart is very important with any of these kids or with anybody.”
image source from：https://coloradocommunitymedia.com/2025/06/16/firefighters-police-students-gather-at-cosmos-pizza-for-last-fling-lunch/
