Last year was a whirlwind of world events and many in our community struggled to keep their heads above water. Now in the new year, our community can refocus time and energy on giving back to local nonprofits in an effort to uplift the city and its inhabitants. Depending on your area of interests, there are numerous ways to get involved. Here are just a few area nonprofits that do fantastic work for our community.
Front Range Mutual Aid
What they do: This group isn’t specifically a charity but a mutual aid group in which people pitch in to help one another. It sounds simple, but for the past three years, this collection of autonomous groups along the Front Range has been redistributing resources based upon need to a variety of at-risk groups or to individuals experiencing poverty. Learn more about the mentality behind this mutual aid group via its Facebook page.
How to help: Currently, help is needed in curating resource-related documents, website maintenance, and organizing current information. The group also posts frequently on its Facebook page about events and volunteer opportunities.
Boulder Food Rescue
What they do: In an attempt to reduce food waste and conserve precious resources, Boulder Food Rescue saves perfectly good food from going to the dump. This organization picks up soon-to-be-expired or overstocked food from 20+ food vendors, then redistributes it to lower income communities that are less likely to have access to fresh, healthy goods.
How to help: Volunteers are needed for bicycle delivery, picking up food from vendors, sorting food, and a variety of other tasks related to running a non-profit. Visit the website to learn more.
NAACP Boulder County
What they do: Boulder’s NAACP;s goal is toend race-based discrimination, ensure equity, and promote justice. Through civic engagement, education, criminal justice, and more, the NAACP of Boulder County is working to ensure that equal opportunities are provided to all individuals regardless of race.
How to help: Attend an event, join a committee, or attend a meeting to hear guest speakers share information on topics related to engaging the community in racially equitable practices and policies.
The Women’s Foundation of Colorado
What they do: It’s clear across a number of cultures and societies – when we invest in women, entire communities thrive. The Women’s Foundation of Colorado (WFCO) strives to create equitable opportunities for women to earn fair wages and to have access to affordable childcare, job opportunities, and education. Through a variety of outreach, networking, and lectures, WFCO gives women, policy makers, and other nonprofits within the Boulder community the access to information, programs, and support that uplift women.
How to help: The best way to support WFCO is through a variety of giving options, including giving circles, legacy gifting, and donor-advised funds.
Attention Homes
What they do: For many years, Attention Homes has been assisting homeless youth in finding safe shelter, resources, and education so they may have better access to opportunities that uplift them and their loved ones. In addition to providing safe shelter, Attention Homes works to break the cycle of homelessness and permanently get Boulder’s youth off the streets and into positive, fruitful situations.
How to help: Donate items, meals, clothing and other household goods, or sign up to volunteer.
Community Food Share
What they do: For decades, this local nonprofit has been helping reduce hunger in the Boulder and Broomfield counties. The organization rescues food from vendors such as grocery stores, food manufacturers, and restaurants, and then offers it to food-insecure groups within the community.
How to help: It takes plenty of human power to make food banks run. Volunteer your time to help accomplish a plethora of tasks like picking up food, sorting, running errands, and more.
Boulder is often cited as one of the best places to live in the U.S. It’s also one of the wealthier zip codes in the state. However, we still have many residents expericing poverty, homelessness, racial discrimination, and so much more that limits their ability to secure a hopeful, healthy future for themselves and their loved ones. Supporting these organizations by donating time or money is a fantastic way to uplift our entire community.