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A Vibe Foods employee makes a delivery to frontline healthcare workers at Sky Ridge Medical Center.

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Support local!

Hometown Heroes Step Up To Help First Responders and Support Local Businesses In Time of Crisis

Lone Tree Feeds

The City of Lone Tree has joined forces with Lone Tree residents to launch Lone Tree Feeds, an opportunity for community members to send meals to the first responders of in the city – the staff at SkyRidge Medical Center, South Metro Fire Rescue and the Lone Tree Police Department.

Your donation through Lone Tree Feeds not only helps keep the Lone Tree restaurant community afloat in this unprecedented time, but also gives a way to show gratitude to those who are putting themselves in harm’s way. To donate, go to CityOfLoneTree.com/LoneTreeFeeds. Have questions or ideas? E-mail Elaine Caras at elaine.caras@cityoflonetree.com.

Consider Donating Blood

If you are well, please consider donating blood at this time, says Brooke Way, marketing and communications specialist at Vitalant, formerly Bonfils Blood Center. 
“Right now we’ve seen a drop in donations across the nation because of the coronavirus and we need to make sure that our patients have the blood that they need to survive," Brooke says.

Vitalant blood center has implemented extra precautions across all its locations, including the Highlands Ranch location at 541 W. Highlands Ranch Parkway, which have included extra cleaning measures and taking donors' temperatures outside of facilities before being allowed to enter.

“We’re doing as much as we can. We do want to make sure that those people that are giving their time to come in and donate blood, that they’re safe and healthy,” Brooke says. Vitalant.org

Vibe Foods Gives Back

Shannon Weston, owner of Vibe Foods smoothie and superfood bar in Lone Tree, says she and her staff are grateful for the work the first responders are doing. "We know that we have some amazing foods to support good health and want to share them generously with those that are putting their lives on the line for our community."

Among several initiatives and social media giveaways, Vibe Foods made several donations and matched customer donations of juice, immunity shots, healthy snacks and more to Sky Ridge ER and ICU staff, the Fire Department, Lone Tree Police Department, among others. LoveVibeFoods.com

Sending Care Packages

Amidst uncertain times, Curate Mercantile and the Makers Market stores came up with the idea to ship curated care packages while their brick and mortar locations were closed to the public. What started as a small idea to brighten the recipients' day, grew into a large effort with more than 500 packages mailed to almost every state in the United States. The operation has been so successful, the stores will continue to offer the service once their stores are open to the public. CurateMercantile.com

LifeCenter Food Bank 

Kelly McSparran, communications director at Mission Hills Church, which operates The LifeCenter food bank, says the staff has taken precautions and practiced social distancing and continues to serve the community. The food bank started a drive-through operation to continue giving residents aid. “I know that we’ve helped several hundred people at least, through the food bank and we are continuing to increase our reach, ” Kelly says. MissionHills.org

Spavia Gives Back

Spavia, a national day spa founded in Lone Tree, is donating spa treatments to first responders and healthcare workers currently serving communities amid the COVID-19 national emergency.

"In alignment with Spavia Cares and our mission to make a positive difference in the world, one guest at a time, our objective is to provide first responders and healthcare workers an opportunity to relax, re-center, and renew," said president Allison Langenderfer. 

At many locations, Spavia members are actively donating their own monthly treatments, including Spavia's premier 60-minute massage and facials. Members and guests are also purchasing and donating Spavia gift cards. A number of franchise owners are personally matching these donations.

Rotary Club of Highlands Ranch Bright Futures Sponsorship Campaign

Bright Futures...for kids and families annual fundraiser benefits humanitarian organizations through service projects.  Every dollar that is raised from members, individuals and business partners will go directly to supporting our local community, military groups such as Warrior Bonfire, Victory Service Dogs, and NCOA  Snowball Express, youth services including Douglas County Student of the Month Scholarships and Kohl's Santa Clothes Program, and international outreach.

This year's campaign will focus on a robust response to the COVID-19  virus pandemic by supporting partner nonprofit agencies currently experiencing unprecedented demand for food and support (Integrated Family Community Services, Help & Hope Center/Douglas and Elbert County Task Force) and medical equipment (Project C.U.R.E.).

This campaign is not possible without the help and support of generous individual and business sponsors. Donations are 100% tax deductible. Together we can make this the most successful campaign yet.

Contact Tamie Fennell at  703-606-1462 or  tamarafennell@gmail.com. Please make checks payable to Highlands Ranch Rotary Foundation, Inc.  Mail to: Highlands Ranch Rotary Foundation , P.O. Box 632118, Highlands Ranch, CO 80163

Mask Donations

Dena Mehling began sewing and donating cloth face covers at the request of a physician friend and created a Facebook group in the hopes of getting a few others to help.

The Parker resident's Facebook group, Dena's Mask Making Army, soon had 1,000 members, who were making and donating masks for front-line workers and all essential health care and non-health care workers. "We are primarily distributing in the metro Denver and extended Colorado area but have sent masks to some facilities in the hardest-hit areas of the country," Dena says.

As of press, Dena's Mask Making Army has donated over 10,500 masks. "It's shown me a sense of community that I hadn't felt before," Dena says. "It has shown me that one person may not be able to save the world but can make a huge difference in it."

Sanitizer Saviors

For almost two decades, OraLabs in Parker has mass-produced personal hygiene products such as hand sanitizer, lip balm, toothpaste, and more.

Its CEO Gary Schlatter got a call from Noel Ginsburg, who is a point person on Gov. Jared Polis’ newly formed Innovation Response Team Task Force, which will work with the state to secure much-needed supplies and protective equipment for hospitals and state agencies.

In just a week, OraLabs shifted production to fill the state’s needs, which includes making at least 20,000 personal bottles of hand sanitizer per day.

The sanitizer will wind up in the hands of people on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. So far, Children’s Hospital Colorado and Angel Flight, a local nonprofit that helps arrange air travel for children and adults with serious medical conditions, have received shipments.

 “I’m just glad that we were able to fulfill the need of the state and take care of our community,” he said. “That’s really the most important thing for us.”

Schlatter said he’s been impressed by all of the companies working with the governor’s task force so far. Currently, others are developing test kits, making medical face shields, and creating other protective equipment for health care workers.

Hospitals, police departments, fire departments, senior centers, state, city & county agencies, universities and critical care businesses can inquire about personal-size hand sanitizer bottles by sending an email to Sanitizer@oralabs.com.

Courtesy of CBS4

We'd love to hear from you. Let us know what your business or organization is doing in the wake of the pandemic to help our community or adapt to new times. Email jennifer.starbuck@lifestylepubs.com or visit highlandsranchlifestylepubs.com and click Contact Us.