#PandemicProject Brought to you by Infinity Business Leaders
Many of us have a charity we fund annually that is near and dear to our hearts, while others struggle to choose which one deserves our attention or where to start. Here is a list of volunteer and donation opportunities in the Denver, CO, area that could really use your help due to the new challenges imposed by COVID 19.
Food Banks
Food Bank of the Rockies is a food bank I am personally familiar with as people and business groups I know have volunteered to work in the kitchen, warehouse, and distribution docks. They are forever short-handed all year long, but now more than ever. They have shifts Monday through Friday and Saturdays. Most volunteers need to be 18, but there are some opportunities for youth 14 and up with permission and adult supervision. The food bank staff will be following all precautions to keep volunteers healthy and safe, whether they are prepping food, doing inventory, loading and sorting, or breaking down boxes.
Share the link: https://www.foodbankrockies.org/volunteer/
Rather than organize a food drive or drop off donations, the Food Bank wants us to know that money fills needs much faster than collecting, transporting, and repackaging items for delivery.
Donate money while also staying safe at home and following regulations for the “Shutter-in” policy if you live in a county that requires you to stay indoors for the next few weeks.
But if you feel the need to donate actual goods, there’s an even better option that allows you to take a scenic drive by yourself or with the family to the Little Free Food Pantry.
Little Free Food Pantry
Rotary Club Gateway Aurora has two pantry locations. One is within the Martin Luther King Jr. Library at 9898 E Colfax Avenue and the other is at the district two fire station at 12600 Hoffman Heights. The mini pantry is self-serve and allows you to drop off and pick up around the clock.
Learn more and share the link: https://sentinelcolorado.com/news/metro/banking-on-kindness-aurora-mini-food-banks-have-a-big-mission/
Blood Donation
Currently, blood drives have been canceled in the Denver area, so you must make an appointment to visit blood bank locations:
Vitalant is a nationwide company with eight donation centers across Colorado. An appointment can be made by calling 303-363-2300 or by visiting the website and putting in your zip code for the nearest location. Your choices will include Boulder, Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Golden, Parker, and Colorado Springs areas.
Share the link: https://www.vitalant.org/Home.aspx
UCHealth Garth Englund is another option that has blood donation sites in Loveland and Fort Collins.
- UCHealth Garth Englund Blood Center – Loveland
- 2500 Rocky Mountain Avenue Loveland, CO 80538
- 970.624.1510
Share the link: https://www.uchealth.org/locations/uchealth-garth-englund-blood-donation-center-loveland/
UCHealth Garth Englund Blood Center – Fort Collins
- 1025 Pennock Place Suite 104 Fort Collins, CO 80524
- 970.495.8965
- 970.495.8967
Share the link: https://www.uchealth.org/locations/garth-englund-blood-donation-center-fort-collins/
Children’s Hospital
- Locations are in Aurora, Denver, Parker, Centennial, Wheatridge, and Highland’s Ranch.
- Call 720-777-5398 to be screened and make an appointment.
Red Cross
Like the Food Bank, a financial donation may be the easier choice. Donation page: https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/
ARISE Adoption Support Services
Go to https://adoption-options.com/get-involved/arise-adoption-academy to learn about the service. Adoption Options is watching as their biggest fundraiser, the Rolling Hills Golf Event in June, may have to be postponed or canceled. This will deliver a big blow. They must get donors and sponsors from the community to keep providing services. Without them, ARISE adoption support services will not exist. The Infinity Business Leader members are focusing on this charity for 2020. Reach out to SDeebs@Adoption-Options.com with potentially interested corporate sponsors who may make significant contributions. A warm email introduction would be very helpful.
Here is the link for the parent organization, Adoption Options, donation page: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/CXLt–utHmgu5CV9HRE_WQ. Select, yes, to cover the payment processing fee and add 3% to the total.
And once you’ve made your choice
Take a picture of your participation, such as your ‘submission received page’ for donations, a selfie at the location with your food or other contribution, or while giving blood. Get creative and involve the whole family. We will be posting your efforts on social media and then commenting on each post so that people learn about Infinity Business Leaders members, their friends and connections, and how they helped during the crisis. It will also keep us in touch with colleagues and consumers as they see our faces over and over again.
Our “Coronavirus challenge” is to see how many times you can comment and share another person’s post, and how many people you can inspire to contribute to these local causes. Get others to take a pic and post it with #InfinityBusinessLeaders, #PandemicProject, #CoronavirusChallenge, #Charity.
Feel free to contact me at JessicaOlma@ScribeSyndicate.com with questions, or to provide information about changes in donation and volunteer activity.
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