Getting involved in your community is pretty much as simple as having the desire and just getting out there. There are plenty of organizations that are ready and willing to let you help out. Even if volunteer work is not normally on their agenda, there are many things you could offer to do for them that would be appreciated.
Check With Local Schools and Organizations That Help Children Local schools always need a helping hand. Whether you are helping to build a playground or reading a book to a classroom of kindergartners, it is likely a school will welcome volunteer work with open arms. Check with the administration at your local schools to see what is needed. If you have ideas, don't be afraid to make suggestions. Another good way to find about volunteer and community opportunities involving children is to seek out companies and organizations that might serve children. For instance, the Texas Farm Bureau helped third and fifth graders with a cabbage garden and a butterfly garden. This may sound small, but both are educational, as well as fun. From this type of activity, kids can learn about teamwork, learn gardening skills, learn to appreciate nature, get some exercise, as well as just plain have fun. Not all kids have opportunities like this on a daily basis. Give Back at Work Many companies give back to the community as well. Ask your boss if your company participates in volunteer work. One company that has an excellent volunteer program for its employees is The Home Depot. There are various ways Home Depot gives back to the community. Employees are encouraged to volunteer for The Home Depot Foundation (established in 2002). Home Depot associates (called Team Depot) can volunteer by building and restoring playgrounds, assessing and correcting safety and accessibility issues within the community, participating in affordable housing projects, helping with emergency preparedness, and more. Look Up Various Shelters, Educational Assistance, and Other Programs Perhaps there are adults in your area that don't yet have their high school diploma or GED. Rather than them paying high costs for classes, you may want to volunteer for tutoring. Oftentimes, shelters will offer programs to help people in this situation. If you would like to help, try going to your local shelters and asking administration about these programs. Speaking of shelters, another way to volunteer and help those in need is by going to local shelters and asking about their greatest needs that a volunteer such as yourself would be able to provide. If they cannot think of any needs, but would like help somehow, you could make suggestions based on your talents and skills. For example, if you have experience counseling, you may want to provide counseling to families in tough situations, such as the youth at a shelter like Covenant House in Houston, TX. No matter what type of volunteer work you choose, you can be sure that it will help someone in some way. Getting involved in the community is a great way to help others, gain character, and build a great resume. Not only can volunteering make the recipient of your efforts happy, but it also can lift your spirits as well. *I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network (this version updated 8/27/2015) If you need help getting free food in Denver due to low-income, emergencies, and more, this long list of food banks in Denver County, Colorado will help. These food banks provide free food for families, free food for seniors, free school supplies, free formula, free diapers, and more. We have listed the most updated information we have. However, we do recommend calling ahead to check current details, as these can change to better serve the community. This list is in alphabetical order, along with addresses, phone numbers, and websites (when applicable). If we have other information about them, it will be listed as well.
Food Banks in Denver County with Free Food and Other Assistance ACS Community Lift 5045 W. 1st Ave. (303) 935-7386 M-Th from 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Agape Christian Church 2501 California St. (303) 296-2454 Fridays from 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (Education, prison, youth, & other services also offered) The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Denver Cathedral) 1530 Logan Street (303) 831-7010 M-F 1 - 1:30 p.m. Berkeley Baptist Church 4050 W. 44th Ave. (303) 477-3002 Thursdays from 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (Bread Only) Bienvenidos Food Bank via NW Family Assistance Center 2224 W. 32nd Ave. (at Wyandot) (303) 433-6328 1st, 2nd, and 4th Thursdays of the month 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 4 - 5:30 p.m. Campbell Chapel AME 1500 E. 22nd Ave. (303) 839-5058 4th Friday of the month 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Christ Body Ministries 16th and York St. (303) 860-1272 Saturdays at 2 p.m. Church in the City 1580 Gaylord St. (303) 322-5733 2nd and 4th Sunday each month at 12:30 p.m. Colorado AIDS Project 2490 W. 26th Ave. Building B (303) 837-1501 (ext. 105) T, Th from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m, W from 1 -5 p.m, and Sat from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Community Ministry 1755 S. Zuni S (303) 936-0469 M, W, Th from 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and Tues from 2 - 4:30 p.m. Crossroads of the Rockies 2707 W. Mississippi Ave. (303) 922-8772 T, Th from 9-11:15 a.m, Sat 9-9:30 a.m. Denver Indian Center 4407 Morrison Road (303) 936-2688 T, Th from 2-4:45 p.m. (other assistance services also available) Denver Inner City Parish 1212 Mariposa (303) 629-0636 Mon & Fri from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Denver Rescue Mission 23rd & Lawrence St (303) 294-0157 Tues - Sat from 8:30 - 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. (other assistance services also available) Denver Urban Ministries (denUM) 1717 E Colfax Ave. (303) 355-4896 M, T, F from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m, W from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m, & Th from 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (other assistance services also available) East Denver Fish Epiphany Lutheran Church and Washington Park United Church of Christ (303) 234-5283 Phone calls only M, W, F from 8 - 11:30 a.m. (Delivery service to area zip codes, call for info) Front Range Seniors 1200 El Paso Blvd. (303) 287-6789 55 and older only - Thursdays at 9 a.m. Greater Park Hill Community - Emergency Food Pantry 2823 Fairfax St. (303) 388-0918 M, W from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. (must be a Park Hill resident) His Love Fellowship 910 Kalamath St. (303) 623-1623 Thursdays at 8 a.m. House of Joy Church 3082 Leyden St. (303) 388-9060 Thursdays from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. House Worship Center 195 S. Monaco Parkway (303) 333-9477 and (303) 355-0297 M, W, F from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. (must call ahead, pick-up at another location, other services offered) Jewish Family Service of Colorado 3201 S. Tamarac Dr. (303) 597-5000 First-time clients call (720) 248-4716 for appt. (W, F 10 a.m. - 1 p.m; Seniors Tues 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. - closed last Tues each month; other assistance services available) Macedonia Baptist Church 3240 Adams St. (303) 377-8821 T, Th 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (must call the day before) Metro CareRing 1100 E. 18th Ave. (temporarily at 16th & Ogden) (303) 860-1819 M, W, Th - call for schedule (other assistance services also available) Metropolitan Community Church 980 Clarkson St. (303) 860-1819 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Monday each month from 3 - 6 p.m. (welcoming to LGBT community) Ministry Outreach Center 5725 E. 39th Ave (303) 297-1815 M-F from 8:30 - 11:30 a.m; appts from 12:30 - 2 p.m. (clothing and furniture assistance also available) Most Precious Blood Catholic Church 2250 S. Harrison St (303) 756-3083 M-Th from 9 - 11 a.m. and 1 - 3 p.m. Our Lady of Lourdes Church 2200 S. Logan St. (303) 722-6861 M-F from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Park Hill 7th Day Adventist Church 3385 Albion St. (303) 922-1131 T, W from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Praise Center Church 3105 W. Florida Ave. (303) 922-1131 3rd or 4th Fri of the month at 10 - 10:15 a.m. (schedule on website) (homeless/transitional services also offered for women) Rising Star Baptist 1500 S. Dayton St. (303) 752-0546 Third Saturday from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Rose of Sharon Food Bank 5306 Lincoln St. (303) 308-1652 call for schedule Scott United Methodist 2880 Garfield St. (303) 322-8967 2nd and 3rd Thursday of the month from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Senior Assistance Center 2839 W. 44th Ave. (303) 455-9642 Thursdays only from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. (other assistance services also available) Senior Support Services 846 E. 18th Ave. (at Emerson St.) (303) 832-1622 55 and older; M-F 1-2 p.m. (other assistance services also available) Servicios De La Raza 3131 W. 14th Ave. (303) 458-5851 Call for appt. (other assistance services available) St. Anthony’s Church 8301 W. Ohio Ave. (303) 935-2431 Tues from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. and Fri from 10 - 11 a.m. St. Frances De Sales Serves 80209 zip code (303) 744-7211 Delivery only - call for appt. Twin Parishes - St. Vincent De Paul Society 3663 Humboldt St. (303) 294-0684 T, Th from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Volunteers of America 2877 Lawrence St. (303) 295-2165 M-Th from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Zion Senior Center 5151 E. 33rd Ave. (303) 333-5746 M-Th at 11:30 a.m. (other assistance services also available)
By, Crystal S. Kauffman, Contributing Writer
If you look in a history book, you will never find the name Viola Liuzzo as a martyr for civil rights. However, in 1965, she became an unknown martyr in the hearts of many civil rights activists. She was shot by self-proclaimed KKK members in Selma, Mississippi, during a civil rights march on March 25, 1965. Now, there is a memorial on the spot that she died, yet no one mentions her name in the history books. According to Mr. Simkin, she was a 36 year old mother of five kids, who wanted to make a difference in the fight for civil rights.
She was married to a man named Anthony J. Liuzzo, who was very supportive of his wife's ambitions. Viola graduated from "Wayne State University" and was pursuing a career as a "medical lab technician" (Simkin) After she watched 'Bloody Sunday' unfold on television in Selma, Alabama. She empathized with the pain and torment of those who fought for the right to vote. So she decided to stand up and become a civil rights activist, who helped out with driving people to the marches. They followed Martin Luther King and 25,000 others in a march from Selma to Montgomery. Once getting involved, she witnessed the brutality of other Americans in the south. As a white woman, she could have decided that it was too dangerous to go, but she was also a trained nurse who felt she may be able help. Then, on the night of March 25, 1965, she was shot in the head twice by three KKK members from Birmingham. Viola was brutally killed, while driving some of the protesters home. However, according the FBI, a man named Leroy Moton was driving and became an eye witness to her murder. Before long, three men were arrested and charged with violating Viola Liuzzo civil rights. According to the FBI, an undercover agent named Carl Rowe was also riding with the KKK members that night. These self-proclaimed KKK members were Collie Wilkins", "William Eaton", and "Eugene Thomas" (FBI, 2006). They were found guilty and sentenced to ten years in prison. Fortunately, the undercover FBI agent Carl Rowe was compelled "testified against them" (Simkin) in court. In an attempt to discredit Viola, some vicious rumors alleged that she had abandoned her children and husband for a black man's affection. According to Simkin, these damaging rumors, were believed to have been started by the FBI. Sadly, she tried to stand up for the civil rights of others, but was ultimately was denied her own civil rights.. How come Americans are not taught about her courageous decision to stand up, which ultimately cost her own life? Why did the undercover FBI agent choose not to protect her and her companions? What made them spread this vicious rumor about a woman, who chose to stand up for others and their right to be a free American? References: Simkin, John (1997) Spartacus Educational: Viola Liuzzo Retrieved on the World Wide Web on June 13, 2007 http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAliuzzo.htm Federal Bureau of Investigations (2006) Viola Liuzzo Murder Retrieved on the World Wide Web on June 13, 2007 http://foia.fbi.gov/foiaindex/liuzzo.htm by Dennis Townsend, Contributing Writer In 1963 the presidential political campaign was finally taking shape, and the Republicans had Barry Goldwater and Nelson Rockefeller as their leading candidates,and President John Kennedy was wondering what could Democrats offer the average voter in the upcoming elections. “What can we do to make them decide to vote for us? We hope we have to sell them prosperity, but for the average guy the prosperity is nil. He’s not unprosperous, but he’s not very prosperous, and the people who really are well-off hate our guts.” That same statement can be made today by the odds on favorite and the number one Democratic contender, Hillary Clinton. Since the redistricting of the country by the Republicans to gain a voter advantage, the world of demographics really comes into play and will play an important part in the election. While some say that the Democrats have some advantages because three of the four biggest states have growing Hispanic populations, it will never trump the slight of hand that the GOP is so famous for and especially now that they are in “desperation” mode. With that said, there are still some noteworthy problems that lay ahead for Hillary and the Democrats run to the top. The GOP can always count on the south to be forever loyal to the Republican Party just as you can just about count on the African-American voters being equally dedicated to the Democratic Party. While that may be the genuine Democratic voters creed, there are politicians in the party who are without honor, who claim to be a loyal Democrat, but as we saw right before the mid-terms last year, there were some wishy-washy Democratic politicians who threw their own president under the bus in lieu of popularity votes from the “dark side.” And with voter turnout at an all time low for the mid-terms, the Republicans took control of both the House and the Senate. Even though the south lost the Civil War, some southerners still hold on to beliefs that’s been handed down through the generations.They still speak a language that the Democrats don’t understand, but is well known and understood clearly by the southern politician. Being forever optimistic, the Democrats have high hopes of returning to power in Texas, the land of Rick Perry, which will be a daunting task to say the least. Did you know that among all those cattle and oil wells in Texas, there are thousands of poor, isolated people starving to death. They are out in rural areas, so distant that some have to travel over 20 miles to food pantries, and making these people travel that same distance to get identification cards or drivers licenses in order to satisfy the paranoid Republican requirements to vote is unbelievable. Voting is suppose to be easy and idiot-proof and not laced with a bunch of unnecessary legal mumbo-jumbo as to why you need a picture I.D. to vote. The Republicans claim that voting oversight, theirs, is needed because there is wide spread voter fraud taking place goes right in the same category with the belief that the world is flat. Oklahoma, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and surprisingly, West Virginia, who identified itself as a southern state when 62 percent of the state voted for Mitt Romney during the last presidential election, make up 41 electoral votes, all of which went to Romney. Texas itself has 38 electoral votes, hardly a reason for the GOP to really worry about losing it. Another reason that the Republicans are feeling rather cock-sure of themselves leading up to the 2016 elections is that someone in their party apparently had a rare light bulb moment and declared that since the black unemployment rate was so high, there was no incentive for African-Americans to get out and vote like they did for Barack Obama. They are under the misguided impression that blacks somehow feel resentment that Obama didn’t get them their “40 acres and a mule”, and have uniformly decided voting was a waste of time then and will be in 2016. Wrong answer! My take on that kind of thinking is that what they are really saying is that African-Americans are so disenchanted with the system, that they will go back to being lazy non-voters who have no desire to get involved with the social issues that are so important in the inner cities. It seems to me that making sure a Republican doesn’t get in the White House to make more draconian budget cuts to those same social programs is all the incentive the poor, black or white, needs to get out and vote. It's plain to me that the Republicans are betting their whole party's future on wishful thinking. Do they have a chance of getting into the White House, of course they do, after all, they have more than a dozen candidates who say they are better than the other Republican. It will be interesting to see who emerges as the front runner when the dust settles at the Republican jamboree in Cleveland. One things for sure, there will be world record backstabbing and name-calling, but in the end, they'll be holding hands, and singing kumbaya and you can take that to the bank. DLTPONCHO33
by Dennis Townsend, Contributing Writer
You see them everyday walking the city streets, or maybe you don’t see them, after all, they are part of the population that’s increasingly becoming invisible. They are not labeled, and if you didn’t know what to look for, they would look like everyday teenagers except for one thing, they are homeless high school honor students. They live in cardboard boxes under bridges, or take refuge in boarded up abandoned houses and usually shy away from shelters. They do their homework at public libraries, eat at soup kitchens, and do their school clothes shopping at donation bins. Some come from homes where the parents were drug addicts, or life long criminals, but for the most part, they are the fallout from an economy that tanked thanks to the Wall Street bright boys and the likes of Countywide's “mortgage-gate”. Often when a family loses their income due to lack of work or some other unfortunate circumstance the bad luck doesn’t “trickle” down, it cascades. If you have a son or daughter that is of high school age, they are more apt to want to graduate with their friends and do not want to be embarrassed and uprooted to a foster home or a shelter, so they break out on their own hoping to finish their education covertly. Some families stay together by moving in with relatives, but for some, there is no such lifeboat. For those who are without family, those whose parents are in prison, those who have been abandoned because there just wasn’t enough family resources have learned the time tested occupation of pan-handling to survive. And despite what you might think, only a small percentage turn to crime to survive. Child labor laws are a barrier to legal employment even in a hamburger joint, and many don’t have a real address and are afraid of winding up in some horrible social institution. You hear a lot about high school students dropping out of school, but the homeless honor student has only one thing on his or her mind, and that is to better their circumstances and that requires a good education. It is estimated that there are more than 1 million homeless high school students across the United States. The top four states with the most population of homeless students are California, New York, Texas, and Florida. Some schools are able to identify those students that are homeless, and offer some assistance, and most of the time that is in the form of a warm place to stay at night, or a good meal, truly valuable gifts.. And as long as they see an honest effort by the student, schools are more willing to be accommodating and overlook certain criteria. There are ten other states that have seen an increase in homeless students and it’s clear this is the sign of the times. And while some of these students are getting help, there are thousands getting no help at all. There is talk of addressing the situation in Washington, but at the speed they move, well, need I say more. If you happen upon one of these courageous students offer what help you can because they bring a whole new definition to the term “Rhodes” (Road) scholar.
DLTPONCHO33
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