Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday – all geared toward “spend, spend, spend!” Sure, we all love to give gifts – and receive them. But are you one of the many who really don’t need anything else? Do your children get so many gifts that they never remember all the things they receive, never mind who gave them what? If you’re one of the many blessed with ‘enough,’ I invite you to consider giving to those who are not so blessed this year. There are so many out there who are in dire need.
Like so many large cities, the Denver metro area has an ever-growing list of charities and non-profit organizations to which you may contribute – money, items, gifts, time. Below is just a few of them; please forgive me if you are involved with one not listed here.
Denver Post Charities’ Season To Share (SeasonToShare.com)
Denver Post Charities’ Season To Share is a holiday fundraising campaign through which grants are provided to local nonprofit organizations that move people out of poverty by providing meals for those who are hungry, shelter for those who are homeless, healthcare for uninsured/underinsured patients, education programs for disadvantaged children, and literacy services for low-income adults. Season To Share is a campaign of Denver Post Charities which is a McCormick Foundation Fund.
- Every donation is matched at 50% by the McCormick Foundation.
- 100% of your tax-deductible donation (plus the match) goes directly to local charities serving those in need. The Denver Post and the McCormick Foundation pay all administrative and promotional expenses.
Since 1992, more than $56.4 million has been distributed to local nonprofit agencies through Denver Post Charities’ Season To Share.* Many have been helped, but more remains to be done.
Bonfils Blood Center (www.Bonfils.org)
This year, Belle Bonfils Memorial Blood Bank celebrates 65 years of saving lives from their headquarters, located at University of Colorado Hospital. It now operates nine community donor centers, serves more than 200 healthcare facilities in Colorado and beyond, collects more than 200,000 units of blood annually, and offers a variety of services to better meet the needs of the community.
Each week, Bonfils Blood Center needs more than 4,000 donors to meet the needs of our community and to be prepared in case of an emergency. Donating blood typically takes less than an hour and, with nine community donor centers and as many as 13 mobile blood drives each day, there's sure to be a donation location near you.
Food Bank of the Rockies (www.FoodBankRockies.org)
Food Bank of the Rockies (FBR) strives to create a place for everyone at the table. In the area served by FBR, nearly 400,000 people live in poverty and struggle to meet their basic food needs; almost half of them are children. Hunger is especially hard on children, who make up 47 percent of the FBR’s clients, and must have proper nutrition to grow and learn. Last year, FBR distributed over 22 million pounds of food -- enough for our agencies to provide more than 46,000 meals each day to children, seniors and families in need.
The FBR offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities, including organizing and distributing food, assisting with mailings and other important duties. Call to schedule a time to volunteer. Contact Olive Crawford at 303-371-9250 ext.236 or by email at volunteer@foodbankrockies.org.
SafeHouse Denver (www.SafeHouse-Denver.org)
Established in 1977, SafeHouse Denver operates the only shelter in the City and County of Denver that exclusively serves victims of domestic violence. SafeHouse also runs a non-residential Counseling & Advocacy Center where we provide all of our support services to women and children not in need of emergency housing. SafeHouse's shelter has 26 beds plus cribs, serving more than 340 women and children in a typical year. In addition, SafeHouse serves hundreds more women and children through non-residential services. More than just keeping women and children safe, SafeHouse services include individual counseling, advocacy support groups, legal assistance and referrals to other services.
Denver Rescue Mission (www.DenverRescueMission.org)
Your donation to the Denver Rescue Mission will help provide warm meals, safe shelter and critical services to the less fortunate in the Denver Metro area this holiday season. The following are just a few of the outreach opportunities available through the Denver Rescue Mission; please visit their website for a more comprehensive listing:
Champa House
Diapers—all sizes; wipes; women’s watches; white one-inch binders; new silverware sets; new twin bedding for moms and children (sheets and comforters); new bed pillows. For more information, please call Amy at 303.294.9961 or e-mail her at AFletcher@denrescue.org.
Harvest Farm
Men's winter coats, boots, gloves, and coveralls. For more information, please call Michael at 970.568.9803.
Client Services
Diapers -- all sizes; baby formula; winter wear. For more information, please call Tanner at 303.313.2497 or e-mail him at tcogsdil@denrescue.org.
LifeSkills, Education and Career Center
One- to two-inch three-ring binders; spiral notebooks; new pencils. For more information, please call Mark at 303.953.3918.
Denver Children’s Hospital (www.TheChildrensHospital.org/give/in_kind.aspx)
No child should have to be in the hospital during Christmas, but many do not have a choice. The Denver Children's Hospital has been providing innovative, groundbreaking healthcare for children since it was founded in 1908. Donating a Christmas present to an ailing child can brighten their day and put a smile on their face. For more information regarding the requested items on the Denver Children's Hospital Wish List, please visit their website. Please note that any donated Christmas gift needs to be brand new and still in their original packaging.
Denver Kids, Inc. (www.DenverKidsInc.org)
The mission of Denver Kids, Inc. is to help students in grades K-12, who face the personal challenges of higher risk environments, successfully complete high school, explore post-secondary options and become productive members of the community. DKI provides long-term preventive counseling to male and female students in Denver Public Schools who are identified by school personnel as being at-risk, needing support and guidance beyond what is provided in school.
DKI students are matched on a one-to-one basis with a Mentor -- known as "Friends" -- from the community who commits his or her time and energy to serve as a Mentor Friend for a year or more. The Mentor Friend receives training and guidance to serve as a positive, adult role model in the student’s life. Find out how you can become a mentor at www.denverkidsinc.org/volunteersub1.htm.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Denver (www.RonaldHouse.org/wish.html)
The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Denver provide a second home for families that have children who are currently hospital patients. This allows parents to remain close to their children while they are being treated for serious conditions and diseases. For a list of items they are currently in need of, please visit their website.
Denver Area Toys for Tots (www.ToysForTots.org)
Toys for Tots provides brand new toys for needy children. During the holiday season, they hold an annual toy drive with convenient drop off locations. For drop-off locations visit the official Marine Toys for Tots website.
Dumb Friends League (www.DDFL.org)
Humans aren’t the only ones needing your help. Founded in 1910, the Dumb Friends League (DFL) is a national leader in providing humane care to lost and abandoned animals, rescuing sick, injured, and abused animals, adopting pets to new homes, helping pets stay in homes, and educating pet owners and the public about the needs of companion animals. The Dumb Friends League is the largest animal welfare organization in the Rocky Mountain region, welcoming tens of thousands of animals to our two shelters.
Denver’s Road Home (www.DenversRoadHome.org)
Founded in October 2003, Denver’s Road Home is the Mile High City’s comprehensive 10-year plan to bring an end to homelessness for the Denver community. This organization doesn’t just serve the chronically homeless, it also provides opportunities and hope to all persons living on the street, in shelters or doubled up with friends and family in Denver, with an emphasis on persons and families whose incomes are at or below 30% percent area median income (those most in need and hardest to serve). Denver’s Road Home hopes to develop permanent, transitional and shelter housing, in addition to providing Denver residents facing homelessness with essential tools for staying off the street.
The list is long as the need is great. I hope you’ll include the whole family as you select which charities you might be able to help this year. Having your children get involved will help them realize that this holiday season isn’t just about getting – it’s about giving to those who really need it most.
