Creative Ways to Support DenUM this Summer
Historically, June, July, and August are the most demanding months in DenUM's food pantry. For low-income families, summer can be the hardest time of year, as school-aged children are not receiving school meals through the federal breakfast and lunch programs, putting additional pressure on already stressed household food budgets.
As the economy worsens, DenUM clients are struggling with higher food costs - in April, DenUM provided 1,056 food bags to needy families. This is the highest number of food bags DenUM has ever given out in one month! As summer comes and requests for assistance rise even higher, DenUM needs your help keeping up. Here are four easy ways to continue your support of DenUM through the summer:
- Donate 10 % of your Economic Stimulus Payment. The economic downturn has hit low-income citizens hardest, and yet this population is getting the least support from Economic Stimulus checks. DenUM clients are struggling with higher food costs and lack of affordable housing. Help DenUM keep up with increasing requests for services - donate 10% of your rebate to DenUM!
Click Here to Donate Now!
- Collect Toiletries from vacation spots. As you travel and stay in hotels this summer, collect complimentary soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and lotions. Then deliver these to DenUM to help fill hygiene kits for job seekers.
- Pick Five. The U.S.D.A.'s Food Pyramid suggests picking from the five major food groups for a healthy diet. Each time you do your grocery shopping, add five items to your cart for DenUM clients. These could be "buy-one-get-one-free" items, which entails no additional expense for you! Collect these items over a few weeks, and then bring them to DenUM to help fill our pantry and feed hungry neighbors.
- Take the "Give a Tenth" Challenge. If you spend $100.00 a week on groceries, buy 10 percent more or $10.00 worth of items to donate to DenUM. Or, donate $10.00 to help DenUM buy food for those who need it!
Your Grocery Bill 10% for DenUM's Pantry
$100 $10
$150 $15
$200 $20 |
Donate Your Car to DenUM
Another creative way to support DenUM at any time of year is to donate your car. DenUM partners with Cars for Charity, a nonprofit organization, and Klode, a vehicle auction facility, to accept your vehicle donation.
On our behalf, Klode will tow the vehicle, process the title, and auction the vehicle.
How does this help you?
- It's easier than repairing, advertising, and selling your vehicle.
- It's a tax deduction.
- Help clean up the environment by getting rid of unsightly, unwanted vehicles.
- Hassle Free: free towing if necessary, free title services, quick and easy paperwork.
The result? DenUM receives 100% of the net proceeds, which are used to provide more services to low-income residents of the Denver metro area.
We can accept most automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, boats, and recreational vehicles. Vehicles must have a title to be processed.
Call Faye at 303.350.5066 for more information.
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Betsy's Story
Betsy Keyack, one of DenUM's newest volunteers, comes to DenUM from St Luke's United Methodist Church in Highlands Ranch.
Since she retired and moved to Colorado in 1999, Betsy has served on the Missions Committee at St Luke's UMC. This is where she first heard about DenUM. Her involvement with DenUM continued when, in 2004, she became co-coordinator of the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) for the Rocky Mountain conference. As she works to connect people with mission trip opportunities, Betsy often refers groups to DenUM's Urban Education program.
When she began her work at DenUM in April, Betsy shared, "I love to learn, listen to people, and help people." As she works at the reception desk in job services on Thursday mornings and answers the phone on Thursday afternoons, Betsy has been a courteous and compassionate first contact for many DenUM clients.
In 2007, community volunteers donated 9,876 service hours at DenUM - valued at $192,681 or nearly 5 full-time staff members!
Many thanks to Betsy and all of DenUM's volunteers for the crucial work they do at DenUM! |
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Currently, DenUM's five most needed items are:
1. Protein Items
2. Cans of Fruit
3. Boxed Meals
4. Toothpaste
5. Size 4-6 Diapers
(This list is updated frequently. Visit DenUM's website for most recent information!) |
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In April...
DenUM staff and volunteers served
48 families per day
in Outreach;
providing
1056 food bags
to Denver metro residents;
distributing
28,512 pounds of food;
serving
2,852 men, women, and children
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In schools, federal breakfast and lunch programs are currently serving more than 31 million students, which will soon give way to summer programs that serve just 3 million.
This is just one reason that this summer will be one of the most demanding times of year at DenUM.
Please continue your support of DenUM through the summer!
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DenUM thanks all those organizations that donated food, hygiene, and infant items in April:
Arvada UMC
Brighton UMC
Evanston UMC
First Mennonite Church
Good Shepherd UMC
Grace UMC
Hope UMC
St Andrew UMC
St James Urban Church
St Luke's UMC
Simpson UMC
Smoky Hill UMC
Trinity UMC
UMC of Eagle Valley
University Park UMC |
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You can also support our programs by donating your car or clothing, designating DenUM in your workplace giving campaign, or making a gift to DenUM's endowment fund.
For more information, contact Faye Gardner
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