Create a purposeful connection with your community this season by donating your time and/or resources to those in need. Not only will you help others by supporting those close to you, but you will also have an opportunity to learn a lot about yourself and your neighbors in the process. Choose one of these local organizations to support or explore the many other opportunities that your community holds and find an institution that carries weight and rings true to your own values.
Sign Up and Step Forward
Community Food Share
Volunteer with the whole family at Community Food Share’s distribution center or help by maintaining and cultivating their several community gardens throughout the Boulder area. Since 1981, they’ve been combating hunger in Boulder and Broomfield counties by feeding those in need. It has both on-site (in Louisville) and mobile pantries where families and individuals can shop for produce and other staples. Its Elder Share program also provides free groceries to homebound seniors twice a month. CommunityFoodShare.org
Humane Society of Boulder Valley
HSBV has a brand-new facility currently under construction which will allow them to gain a Critical Care Ward and double the amount of large dog kennels and exam rooms. New volunteer opportunities will be available soon after construction is completed, but you can sign up now. As part of their Pets and Pals team, youth between 7-14 years of age can volunteer alongside an adult. There are also always plenty of animal fostering opportunities for families and individuals. BoulderHumane.org
Growing Gardens
With two farms and a goat dairy located in both Boulder and Longmont, this organization has been connecting members of the community with sustainable agriculture and food donations for over 20 years. Reach out about their corporate volunteer opportunities to plan a team build or get your hands dirty and sign up to help them harvest and organize their CSA. GrowingGardens.org
Sister Carmen Community Center
SCCC provides basic needs and services to residents and families of East Boulder County. They connect access to nutrition and healthy living with a drive-thru food bank, improve access to stable housing with emergency financial assistance and expand family education through parenting classes and support groups (among many other programs and services). There are several volunteer opportunities with their food bank, community garden and thrift store locations. SisterCarmen.org
Thoughtful Donations
Small Business Saturday
Commit your support to all things local on Saturday, November 26 by dining, shopping and seeking out services from the small business owners that make your neighborhood great. Since 2010, this Saturday in November has been giving a boost to the local businesses that make up the patchwork of what makes our neck-of-the-woods vibrant and unique. Remember that every time you have lunch at a locally-owned restaurant or buy a piece of hand-crafted local art, you are supporting the vitality of your own community.
Colorado Gives Day
Since 2010, Colorado Gives Day has raised more than 362 million dollars for the state’s nonprofits. Choose a cause that is close to your heart on Tuesday, December 6 and get a boost to your donation from the Colorado Gives Incentive Fund. Here’s a chance for your generous donation to make even more of a difference from the help of corporate sponsorship. ColoradoGives.org
There With Care
For over 15 years, Boulder-based There With Care has been providing direct support and assistance to families that have a child that’s been diagnosed with a critical illness. There are many ways to donate on There With Care’s website; signing up for monthly giving, purchasing a linked King Soopers loyalty card, supporting families while shopping online with AmazonSmile and Wishlists or donating in-kind with much-needed non-perishable food and household supplies. ThereWithCare.org
Resource Central
“Putting conservation into action” is Resource Central’s mission statement. It puts sustainability at the forefront while focusing on landfill diversion and materials reuse. You can donate new or used building materials or shop for your own DIY project at its nonprofit facility in Boulder; materials are priced approximately 75% less than retail. It also offers Lawn Replacement and Garden-In-A-Box programs with incentives for xeriscaping your yard or garden that help you do your part with water conservation. ResourceCentral.org