׉?ׁB!בCט  u׉׉ 7cassandra://XjpRkqazTHsPlyWhZEtrdA9zsdFvCQlIOoYvRPnJa78(`׉ 7cassandra://3gJ7WjRnMTD3cUM9wROrM7TyujaZ3JFjVaKEMIBLZM8ͅ$`q׉ 7cassandra://RTo2n9kdqyHBuBcaz4ZWsF3RaOWNHj4C8PTDny7gB_c-V`f8 yUנf8 yX <Ǵ9ׁHhttp://DENVERVOICE.ORGׁ ׁ Ј׈Ef8 yC׉E&$ 2 SUGGESTED DONATION @DenverVOICE AIMING FOR EMPOWERMENT JUST DAYS BEFORE CLASSES START, CMU HELPS STUDENT FIND TEMPORARY HOUSING. PAGE 5 BAC SCH BA BACK TACK O SCHOOL BACK T SCHOO BACK O TO SCHOOL HOW LOCAL COLLEGES ARE ASSISTING UNHOUSED AND FOOD INSECURE STUDENTS PEACE: THE KEY INGREDIENT AS A HOMELESS TEEN, LOCAL CATERER DISCOVERED COOKING WAS HIS PATHWAY TO PEACE. PAGE 6 COMBATTING A SILENT EPIDEMIC AURARIA CAMPUS RESOURCES ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY AND HOUSING INSTABILITY. PAGE 8 VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY PAGES 3, 4, 12 EVENTS / PUZZLES PAGE 13 RESOURCES PAGE 15 SEPTEMBER 2024 | Vol.29 Issue 9 SINCE 1997, WE HAVE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO WORK. DONATE TODAY TO ENSURE OUR VENDORS CONTINUE TO HAVE JOBS. (DENVERVOICE.ORG) FROM YOUR VENDOR: PHOTO: TIM CAROLL, MSU DENVER ׉ 7cassandra://RTo2n9kdqyHBuBcaz4ZWsF3RaOWNHj4C8PTDny7gB_c-V`f8 yDf8 yC בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://ZJ1LHZ6m0g8MQreeZd99Caf9CwDhCJg3vqZpG3lnuNIG`׉ 7cassandra://FxuWc-zg30RgQeucO1a1lF3_LFwNUxDP--NPyJUhTK8k7`q׉ 7cassandra://vZr230YB7SoiCz9kG6MEgt6I4QhRxiaqzOruJ9yY5k0#`f8 yYט  u׉׉ 7cassandra://-RIrWqwcPUWhSyDDKVuKcFUftzvhd-R-suz2FJD7gl0_`׉ 7cassandra://thiqUXwd_UstE4G0uD_HfX1bC-qf9xdqMBcrdpll4ekoj`q׉ 7cassandra://tcq5_g6xAROu0C_yXaVHYNv1yrMqImS40LtknbGVNYQ&`f8 yZנf8 yfuc̏9ׁHmailto:ads@denvervoice.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yev9ׁH$http://denvervoice.org/subscriptionsׁ ׁ Јנf8 yd̫9ׁHmailto:program@denvervoice.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 ycg9ׁHhttp://denvervoice.orgׁ ׁ Ј׉ElDIRECTOR’S NOTE BRITTNI JOY WEST-WARE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DEAR DENVER VOICE COMMUNITY— I am thrilled to join the Denver VOICE as your new executive director. With a deep commitment to amplifying community voices and fostering meaningful connections, I look forward to working alongside our dedicated team to continue the impactful work of this incredible organization. Together, we will strive to empower individuals through storytelling, advocacy, and support. With this in mind, I am excited to share the updates and new additions to the Denver VOICE organization. After careful consideration and considering the ever-changing needs of our community, we are transitioning, so that we are no longer “just a street newspaper “ to a workforce development agency. This change is driven by our mission to empower individuals with the skills and opportunities necessary for long-term, sustainable employment. We are about to continue not only the tradition of the street paper, but also, to elevate our vendors’ skills to ensure their continued success through workforce development and training. We know that the paper is a valuable part of that growth and development, and therefore, we have no intention of replacing what we know is a needed resource. The goal of course is to provide new experiences and opportunities that include the paper, while also allowing our vendors to excel and grow in the directions they choose, rather than a source that is chosen for them. I encourage you to keep close to the Denver VOICE as we make this transition. Thank you for welcoming me into this vibrant community. I am excited for the journey ahead and the positive change we will create together. Warm regards, Brittni Joy West-Ware Executive Director, Denver VOICE ■ THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS FRANK DEANGELI is a PNW transplant who has spent seven years in Colorado. He has previously spent much of his professional career working in case management at a homeless shelter. He loves movies, making music, and throwing any kind of flying disc. JAMIE MILLER graduated from the University of Georgia with bachelor’s degrees in journalism and business management. She enjoys exploring the Colorado mountains, reading a good book at a local coffee shop, and doing yoga. JACOB RICHARDS is a community organizer and writer on the western slope of Colorado. His columns have appeared across the West including The Denver Post, Salt Lake City Tribune, and The Daily Sentinel. When not working in the wilderness, he is working on a project called “A People’s History of the Grand Valley.” DENVERVOICE.ORG E.ORG @OCE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni Joy West-Ware MANAGING EDITOR Elisabeth Monaghan PROGRAM DIRECTOR Connie Gaitan GRAPHIC DESIGNER Hannah Bragg VOLUNTEER COPY EDITORS Lanie Lee Cook Emma Hurt Aaron Sullivan ARTISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Rea Brown Jacob Richards Charles Spring WHAT WE DO The Denver VOICE empowers homeless, impoverished, and transient individuals by creating job opportunities through our vendor program. We give our vendors a job and help them tell their stories; this creates a space for them to be part of a community again. Vendors purchase copies of the VOICE for 50 cents each at our distribution center. This money pays for a portion of our production costs. Vendors can buy as many papers as they want; they then sell those papers to the public for a suggested $2 donation. The difference in cost ($1.50) is theirs to keep. WHO WE ARE The Denver VOICE is a nonprofit that publishes a monthly street newspaper. Our vendors are men and women in the Denver metro area experiencing homelessness and poverty. Since 2007, we have put more than 4,600 vendors to work. Our mission is to facilitate a dialogue addressing the roots of homelessness by telling stories of people whose lives are impacted by poverty and homelessness and to offer economic, educational, and empowerment opportunities for the impoverished community. We are an award-winning publication, a member of the International Network of Street Papers and the Colorado Press Association, and we abide by the Society of Professional Journalists code of ethics. WRITERS Lando Allen Frank DeAngeli David Gordon Raelene Johnson Jason Martin Jamie Miller Jacob Richards Jerry Rosen Larmarques Smith Charles Spring BOARD OF DIRECTORS Robert Davis, President Chris Boulanger, Vice President Isabella Colletti, Secretary Antonio Diaz, Treasurer Michael Burkley Jeff Cuneo Johnna Flood Eduardo Platon Charity Von Guinness Cabal Yarne With the money they make selling the VOICE, vendors are able to pay for their basic needs. Our program provides vendors with an immediate income and a support group of dedicated staff members and volunteers. Vendors are independent contractors who receive no base pay. EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT editor@denvervoice.org VENDOR PROGRAM program@denvervoice.org • (720) 320-2155 ADVERTISING ads@denvervoice.org MAILING ADDRESS PO Box 1931, Denver CO 80201 VENDOR OFFICE 989 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, CO 80204 OFFICE HOURS: Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Orientation is held every day we are open, but prospective vendors must arrive by 10:00 a.m. 2 DENVER VOICE September 2024 STAFF CONTRIBUTORS BOARD CONTACT US ׉ 7cassandra://vZr230YB7SoiCz9kG6MEgt6I4QhRxiaqzOruJ9yY5k0#`f8 yE׉ELTHE GREAT NARRATIVE BY REA BROWN, VOICE VENDOR HOW TO HELP The money we take in from vendors helps us cover a portion of our printing costs, but we depend largely on donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations to help us pay our rent and keep the lights on. 1 4 GET THE WORD OUT We rely on grassroots marketing to get the word out about what we do. Talk to people about our organization and share us with your network. Support us on DONATE Donations to the Denver VOICE are tax-deductible. Go to denvervoice.org to give a one-time or recurring donation. You can also mail a check to: Denver VOICE | P.O. Box 1931 | Denver, CO 80201 3 VOLUNTEER We need volunteers to help with everything from newspaper distribution to event planning and management. Contact program@denvervoice.org for volunteering information. 5 SUBSCRIBE If you are unable to regularly purchase a newspaper from our vendors, please consider a subscription. We ask subscribers to support our program with a 12-month pledge to give $10 a month, or a one-time donation of $120. Subscriptions help us cover our costs AND provide an amazing opportunity to those who need it most. Go to denvervoice.org/subscriptions for more information. @denverVOICE 2 ADVERTISE Our readership is loyal, well-educated, and socially concerned. Readers view purchasing the paper as a way to immediately help a person who is poor or homeless while supporting long-term solutions to end poverty. If you are interested in placing an ad or sponsoring a section of the paper, please contact us about rates at ads@denvervoice.org. September 2024 DENVER VOICE 3 ׉ 7cassandra://tcq5_g6xAROu0C_yXaVHYNv1yrMqImS40LtknbGVNYQ&`f8 yFf8 yE בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://wnHOmDJT7r2lAxzYE29s3iK_8j0ReuYJcPhhtv1NqwEC`׉ 7cassandra://xpfeImscu_Zx8FQ_-YM41eKh8o_e_fnNFRnwwoR1di4_`q׉ 7cassandra://zCyTwW4I7iLB6W8oKxcnc6nUKH1tML4AH2-Z6_HhPSE `f8 y_ט  u׉׉ 7cassandra://LTmwZCU5aWr0yP_iVyWHBrRvAJVzSaKRtbrejy1lLWc\`׉ 7cassandra://N7ZLo_ZrcTjeRZbW-Fw-_NczJRtUM6FIv6Ojwq5TAM8~`q׉ 7cassandra://6gbp9r3DQkil6lU7Hz5m3B7q9uggDYn2qylQ04eneLw*~`f8 yg׉E AUTUMN WISH LIST Drop-offs are accepted Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., or by appointment. NEW ITEMS NEEDED: Socks Toiletries (individual or travel-size) Toothpaste, deodorant Chapstick, sunscreen Hand warmers GENTLY-USED ITEMS NEEDED: JASON MARTIN Men’s shoes or boots (sizes 8-12) Men’s jackets (sizes L, XL, XXL) Women’s jackets (sizes M, L, XL) Backpacks, carrier bags USB-C charging cables Ball caps, hats Small, fold-up umbrellas Backpacks VENMO YOUR VENDOR: If you would like to help out a specific vendor by donating a few extra dollars, scan the QR code below to make a payment through Venmo. Please be sure to write your vendor’s name in the comments. Thank you! September/fall is my favorite time of the year. I love to wear hoodies, sweaters, light jackets... and it’s so much cooler then! Summer is hot — especially this summer. And my deceased mother’s birthday is September 29th, which is another reason that this month is special. JERRY ROSEN I love the month of September, as the leaves begin to change at the end of the month. The leaves are just beautiful — especially on the East Coast, where you can see the red and purple colors. I also love the month as the temperatures start to get cooler. LARMARQUES SMITH September... We have a love/hate relationship. [It makes me] sad because summer is over; however, I’m generally excited because I get to start wearing fall fashion — layering is always fun — especially in the fall. September is also the month when I lost my partner of nine years back in 2015. So, September is a time of reflection and for me to be thankful I made it through another HOT summer. CHARLES SPRING I’ve always wanted to witness the fall season in person. Where I’m originally from, they never truly have a fall. Deep down south of Louisiana, there is only one season — summer. It’s always hot and humid. And the type of trees there don’t lose their leaves! So, I’ve never experienced autumn. Only in the movies have I ever witnessed one. @DenverVOICE A ASK A VENDOR THIS COLUMN IS A PLACE FOR DENVER VOICE VENDORS TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS FROM OUR READERS AND STAFF. THIS MONTH’S QUESTION WAS SUGGESTED BY DENVER VOICE VENDOR DAVID GORDON. Q What do you like most about the month of September? LANDO ALLEN I love that the students go back to school in September. When school starts again, it means there will be more college students who will buy the paper, and that means the vendors have more opportunities to make money. DAVID GORDON I’ve always liked the month of September. As a kid, I was excited about starting a new school year. Summer was fun, but I looked forward to seeing friends and meeting new people. In September, we know that fall is here. The way the leaves change color — depending on the [variety of] trees, is visual proof of the biggest change that happens in any season. I also look forward to football season, which starts in September. Here, we don’t just live in Colorado — we live in Broncos Country! 4 DENVER VOICE September 2024 ׉ 7cassandra://zCyTwW4I7iLB6W8oKxcnc6nUKH1tML4AH2-Z6_HhPSE `f8 yG׉EON THE WESTERN SLOPE LUXURY HOUSING PROJECTS LIKE CRAWFORD ROW IN GRAND JUNCTION ARE DRIVING UP RENTAL RATES, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR STUDENTS TO FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. PHOTO: JACOB RICHARDS. COLORADO MESA UNIVERSITY AIMS TO EMPOWER STUDENTS FACING HOUSING INSTABILITY BY JACOB RICHARDS HANNAH VANDEHEI IS A PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR from Kalamazoo, Mich., heading into her senior year at Colorado Mesa University, in Grand Junction. Instead of enjoying the last days of summer vacation, she was trying desperately to find a room to rent within her budget of $500 a month. “Summer is supposed to be downtime, but now I'm stressing about where I'm going to be sleeping when I get to campus,” Vandehei said in an interview with Denver VOICE. Grand Junction's average rental rates have almost doubled in the last two years. In 2022, the fair market rate for a studio apartment was $682 a month. Today the average studio rents for $1,119 a month. “Not knowing where I'm going to live during the school year just adds a lot of stress,” said Vandehei. “Worst-case scenario, I will live in my car and bounce from friend to friend,” she said. Vandehei is not to assist resident students in Colorado, who experienced homelessness at any time while they were in high school, with additional costs above and beyond scholarships, grants, and other financial aid. For out-of-state students like Vandehei, EmpowerEd is not an option. Still, the program is needed locally — especially considering that Grand Junction has one of the highest rates of homelessness in the state. According to its website, REACH, which is a school-based program within School District 51, “responds to the needs of students in temporary or transitional housing situations.” During the 2023-2024 school year, REACH worked with a total of 832 students experiencing housing insecurity. District 51 has just over 20,000 students, which means that roughly one out of every 24 students experienced housing insecurity over the last school year. During the 2023-2024 school year, REACH identified 64 high school seniors as housing insecure. Twelve of them are bound for college, and another seven are heading to trade schools and should be eligible under Colorado's EmpowerEd program. Because the EmpowerEd program opened on August 9, information on the number of program registrations was not available by the time this article went to press. Meanwhile, with a week left until classes started, Vandehei still had not found a place to rent. “I feel like all of my friends have found places by now,” Vandehei said. But help was around the corner. According to Kelsey Coleman, director of public relations at Colorado Mesa University, if CMU has any enrolled students who are facing homelessness, the school will provide the resources, to fulfill that need. “Our campus is uniquely prepared to address the variety the only college student at CMU struggling with housing insecurity. More than 10,000 students at CMU also are directly impacted by the increasing rents, and according to CMU’s admissions numbers, they have admitted 280 students this semester who indicated on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) that they might be in danger of becoming unhoused. Of those, 82 have enrolled. According to CMU, Vandehei has been the only student to reach out to Student Services for help with housing. Colorado state colleges and universities do have resources available. The EmpowerEd Pathway to Higher Education Program was signed into Colorado law on April 29 this year and aims HEIDI VANDEHEI AND HER CAT CURBY. COURTESY OF HEIDI VANDEHEI. of challenges that our students face including housing,” said CMU Vice President of Student Services Jody Diers. “If and when students facing hardships or challenges around housing (before or during the semester) inform CMU they need help, the campus community has ample resources to address their housing needs, as you saw in the case of Vandehei,” she said. Vandehei recently reached out to CMU’s Resident Life office about student housing. She said she did not reach out to them earlier because she had been told they were already overbooked. By the time she arrived in Colorado to return to CMU, Vandehei had found temporary housing on her own. “My friend’s mom is letting me stay with her til’ I find a place,” said Vandehei. Classes started August 19 and with the assistance of friends and guidance from CMU, Hannah Vandehei was housed, and ready to hit the books. ■ September 2024 DENVER VOICE 5 ׉ 7cassandra://6gbp9r3DQkil6lU7Hz5m3B7q9uggDYn2qylQ04eneLw*~`f8 yHf8 yG בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://zsyJXGd9U6qsbHr0Y6MlrFh9ggX1WVd7ljqkVQFo56E`׉ 7cassandra://prRZ3oVj_oL7lHOc0-wF5MV5_xQ1X43NNAVit2z-Xxkm`q׉ 7cassandra://8MTe5lQM2OXNJWkNzVh21ROqomgQHZpKvt5EwQn4rXI%7`f8 yjט  u׉׉ 7cassandra://XP8WgTfNJB8oM_C6_faDcVhZJSj1jITiYrE1DvaDnT0E`׉ 7cassandra://wZdsr-U3I2mbQ4T3UaAmXbgDv6ZbhkbN0Dgp6SLQEPgq`q׉ 7cassandra://VWJEfZ5wNLWQ2_AH5cl1ISuN9wauNXXoJZRzV-gT1I8#`f8 ykנf8 yq̰9ׁHhttp://careasy.org/nonprofiׁ ׁ Јנf8 ypށ9ׁHmailto:program@denvervoice.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yo"W 9ׁHhttp://Amazon.comׁ ׁ Јנf8 ynс̳9ׁH"http://scratchcateringservices.comׁ ׁ Ј׉E COMMUNITY PROFILE PEACE: THE KEY INGREDIENT BY FRANK DEANGELI IN JUNE OF 2024, the Denver VOICE found itself facing a grim reality — a pancake breakfast with no pancakes. Less than 24 hours before the VOICE’s Pancakes board members Against Poverty fundraiser, the coordinating the breakfast received notification that the company originally slated to cater the event was no longer able to do so. Urgent requests for next-day catering were sent to several area catering businesses, and within a few hours, David Bondarchuck — owner and founder of Scratch Catering Services — answered the call. “I just kind of feel like this email was intended for me — divine intervention, honestly,” Bondarchuck said about the email he received from VOICE staff. “It was time to step up.” Bondarchuck acknowledged that he’s been in no position to turn down any job after the COVID pandemic and its subsequent economic aftershocks, but his interest in helping the VOICE was deeper than that — he had experienced homelessness in Denver as a teen, so he understood the community the VOICE serves. When Bondarchuck was 15, he lived alone with his physically abusive father. After one particularly vicious incident involving gunshots and his father’s arrest, police dropped Bondarchuck off at the Gemini House — a youth shelter near Colfax Avenue and Simms Street. The Gemini House offered bus tokens to its guests, which Bondarchuck utilized to travel downtown every day to the Denver Public Library’s central branch. There, he found comfort in the cookbook section. “I didn’t know where to go in life. I didn’t know what was happening, and I missed my grandma. I know it sounds crazy, but [cookbooks] just reminded me of being with my grandma in the kitchen,” said Bondarchuck. After a stint at the youth shelter, Bondarchuck heard from an old friend, who reached out and offered him a place to stay for a reasonable price near Greeley. Before long, with money he made working at McDonald’s, Bondarchuck had moved into his own studio apartment. There, he finally had his own kitchen — a place to earnestly begin his exploration into the world of cooking. “I would cook for people at church, my neighbors, or people at school. I became known as the food guy. Scratch Catering Services was born literally out of that space.” This year marks 16 years that Scratch has officially been in business. It has grown from a one-man operation out of a Greeley studio apartment to a Denver-based team of professionals. Bondarchuck attributes his success, not to any intrinsic business acumen or intuition, but to his sustained passion for cooking over the years, coupled with the awareness that some are willing to pay for his creations. “Cooking brought me peace because I always felt like I wasn’t a failure. Getting to see what I’ve created every time — whether it was a success or not — brought me peace. Somebody asked me one time if I would make them some PHOTO: COURTESY OF DAVID BONDARCHUCK 6 DENVER VOICE September 2024 ׉ 7cassandra://8MTe5lQM2OXNJWkNzVh21ROqomgQHZpKvt5EwQn4rXI%7`f8 yI׉E COMMUNITY PROFILE COMMUNITY PROFILE GROUND BEEF & RICE DAVID BONDARCHUCK, SCRATCH CATERING If you're short on time, or operating on a limited budget, this easy-to-make dish is one of David Bondarchuk's go-to recipes. INGREDIENTS: ☐ 1 pound ground beef (cooked in a pan until browned — I use 80% and drain the fat, you may substitute ground poultry as well) ☐ 2 cups dried white long grain rice rinsed, drained, and cooked to package directions. Hint: To rinse rice, fi ll a bowl or pan with water and add rice, use your hand or spoon to swirl around the rice — notice the milky starch coming off the rice?! Rinse the rice & dump out the water reserving the rice in the bowl or pan until water is clear! ☐ 4-6 washed green bell peppers (may also use red, orange, or yellow) cut tops of peppers ½ inch from the top straight across clean out the seeds and inner ribs of the peppers. Reserve the pepper tops and discard the stems. Dice the bell pepper tops but just the fl esh! ☐ ½ yellow or white onion diced ☐ Salt and pepper to taste! STEPS: 1. While your ground meat is cooking, add the diced onion and bell pepper tops and cook until meat is browned and cooked through. Drain the grease and discard. Add cooked rice to the meat and mix, season with salt and pepper. 2. Using a large tablespoon spoon add the mixture to the cleaned peppers and stuff them full. 3. Any left over meat and rice mix save for a later meal or lunch in a leftover container. 4. Bake at 350º until peppers are softened but not yet falling apart. 5. May top with a slice of tomato or shredded cheese if you have it on hand or eat as is! Tip: You can make this recipe vegetarian by substituting black beans and corn (1 can each rinsed and drained) for the meat, and season with some pre-made salsa or a splash of hot sauce cookies, and they paid me, and that’s when I kind of realized, ‘Oh, wow, I can actually make money doing this thing I love.’” Informed by his own life experiences, Bondarchuck makes caring for others one of his top priorities. “I’m interested in helping others succeed because we’re all successful through other people’s successes,” he said. This attitude is exemplified by the more-than-competitive wage he pays his employees — which is $25 an hour. “A lot of companies aren’t really there to help their employees; they’re there to help themselves. And I don't believe in that. Whatever company becomes successful should be sharing the rewards,” Bondarchuck said. Having experienced years of bullying, abuse, and homelessness as a youth, Bondarchuck offers this advice to anybody experiencing what he went through: “Whether it’s finding housing or finding a job, keep working on bettering yourself. You have to tell yourself your goal every single day, and you have to make decisions that get you closer to that. Sometimes, these choices and decisions are hard…but life is hard. Nothing’s magic — nothing’s Disney. But, you know, baby steps.” At 15, when Bondarchuck visited the downtown Denver Public Library, he would spend his days reading Martha Stewart cookbooks, and he marveled at the "beautiful life" Stewart had cultivated for herself. Now, looking back at nearly 20 years of successful business, has Bondarchuck found this beautiful life for himself? “Absolutely,” he said. “Is life all diamonds and rosé? No, but we take our take our licks, and take our lumps, and celebrate when we hit the mark.” Find out more about David and his company at scratchcateringservices.com. His book, "From Scratch," is available on Amazon.com. ■ VOLUNTEER WITH US! We are looking for volunteers to help us at community events, or to assist with paper distribution and basic offi ce administration at our offi ce (989 Santa Fe. Dr.). If you are interested and would like to know more, contact us at program@denvervoice.org. September 2024 DENVER VOICE 7 DONATE YOUR CAR! Need to get rid of your car, truck, or motorcycle? Consider donating it to Denver VOICE. Call (855) 500-7433, or go to: careasy.org/nonprofi t/denver-voice. Your donation helps Denver VOICE succeed in its mission to provide individuals experiencing homelessness or poverty the chance towards a more stable life. The Denver VOICE empowers homeless, impoverished, and transient individuals by creating job opportunities through our vendor program. We facilitate a dialogue addressing the roots of homelessness by telling stories of people whose lives are impacted by poverty and homelessness and to offer economic, educational, and empowerment opportunities for the impoverished community. ׉ 7cassandra://VWJEfZ5wNLWQ2_AH5cl1ISuN9wauNXXoJZRzV-gT1I8#`f8 yJf8 yI בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://OUW-Mg_xCkBq2xC5n-zGDJS0b1CXK5p125TSLlQudCYK`׉ 7cassandra://mN_VWeaejXmoMuNAN9_Lv2qlXWYaPvgRTvLCb0PDMić_`q׉ 7cassandra://RjR0yoDJNWpwDJekURq9tc1fagIqXjXj6B5kEItoIfQ+`f8 ymט  u׉׉ 7cassandra://OllC8lM0FOZTWt8CfABa90wQFczeRAINp8GgbsXy_o84`׉ 7cassandra://xQeVJEz5d-IyFKyBc1742VNBaGMuVM1LxLctwFe68E4͆&`q׉ 7cassandra://5C9iKA5pIJVa4dB1Mp3Z-ZN6yAAGp_Nwac5ABTxD1lk.`f8 yrנf8 yvt 9ׁH&mailto:studentcarecenter@msudenver.eduׁ ׁ Јנf8 yu`̽9ׁH"mailto:lynxbasicneeds@ucdenver.eduׁ ׁ Ј׉E COMMUNITY FEATURE PHOTO: TIM CAROLL, MSU DENVER COMBATTING A SILENT EPIDEMIC Colleges on Auraria Campus provide resources for students facing homelessness and food insecurity. BY JAMIE MILLER ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, the air on college campuses is saturated with the earthy smell of textbooks, the sound of shoes squeaking down freshly waxed hallways, and the energy of students, anxious to set the right rhythm for the semester. Finding that rhythm can be challenging, especially when the only sound you can hear is your stomach rumbling. In Denver, where the cost of living is roughly 20% higher than the national average and has risen almost 20% over the last four years, housing and food insecurity is a silent epidemic among college students. Abbie Kell, social worker and project manager at Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU), has watched the Denver market become an increasingly difficult place to live. “I have seen the evolution of price increases in Denver, starting in 2018, and the disparities within people who are experiencing homelessness and [financial] difficulty to attain 8 DENVER VOICE September 2024 any sort of housing stability or self-sufficiency,” said Kell. “That gap to self-sufficiency really is workforce and education.” The gap between education and housing is an issue that extends beyond the Rocky Mountains. In 2020, roughly 23% of undergraduate students in the United States, which is more than 4 million, experienced food insecurity, and 8%, which is roughly 1.5 million, faced homelessness, according to GAO’s analysis of student data from the Department of Education’s National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS). The University of Colorado at Denver (CU Denver), Community College of Denver (CCD), and Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) on the Auraria campus provide resources to help bridge that gap for their students. Each institution has a tailored approach to providing resources to its student population, including food pantries and housing assistance programs: PHOTO: TIM CAROLL, MSU DENVER • The University of Colorado Denver’s “Single Stop,” which is located in the Wellness Center, serves as an access point to help students navigate food insecurity (Lynx Food Pantry) and connects students with other community and government resources to help overcome barriers to basic needs. • Community College of Denver’s SPARC Human Services provides support to their students in crisis, including resources for food insecurity (Swooper Market - located in the Tivoli Student Union, Room 249, the Lowry Campus Food Pantry, and Snack Stops, which are located across the campus). • The Metropolitan State University of Denver has a food pantry, Rowdy Corner, which Kell described as “more than just an access point for food." ׉ 7cassandra://RjR0yoDJNWpwDJekURq9tc1fagIqXjXj6B5kEItoIfQ+`f8 yK׉E UCOMMUNITY FEATURE PHOTO: TIM CAROLL, MSU DENVER “We really use Rowdy Corner as a referral point to meet students where they are and get them the resources they need,” said Tim Carroll, senior director of public relations at MSU. “Our recent rebranding of the food pantry to Rowdy Corner helped remove the stigmatization, and students have really gotten behind the idea that this is a resource to help supplement their needs.” Rowdy Corner served roughly 1,800 students last spring, with their busiest week bringing in 853 people. The pantry is open year-round and partners with local vendors to source fresh produce and provide culturally diverse options. According to Jacob Marshall, Rowdy Corner manager and MSU student studying political science and GWS, the community and mission are what make it unique. “One of the main goals is removing the stigma of getting to use a food pantry and getting food access for free. All the employees are passionate about it. There are a lot of different jobs people get on campus and it feels like the people who PHOTO: TIM CAROLL, MSU DENVER typically get a job here have an interest in food justice or helping the community. Nobody is here to just get paychecks,” said Marshall. MSU also offers assistance for students in need of emergency housing assistance. Students can access housing resources by submitting a CARE referral to the Student Care Center (SCC), which covers all housing assistance needs. Once they submit their forms, students will be assigned a case manager to provide guidance and next steps, which may include emergency financial aid through the Student Emergency Retention Fund, which offers stipends to help students manage unexpected or severe life events that could interrupt educational progress. During the 2022-23 academic year, the SCC distributed over $660,000 in emergency funds, 80% of which supported housing instability of some kind, according to Kell. “Significant numbers of students are experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness. However, our community-based resources are significantly underfunded and under-resourced, and many have waitlists that are weeks and months long for students who need urgent housing assistance,” said Kell. If you are interested in volunteering time or resources, or are a student interested in learning how to utilize the resources offered on the Auraria campus, contact UC Denver at lynxbasicneeds@ucdenver.edu, CCD at (303) 352-3205, and MSU at studentcarecenter@msudenver.edu. ■ COURTESY OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF DENVER COURTESY OF CU DENVER COURTESY OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF DENVER September 2024 DENVER VOICE 9 ׉ 7cassandra://5C9iKA5pIJVa4dB1Mp3Z-ZN6yAAGp_Nwac5ABTxD1lk.`f8 yLf8 yK בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://AauyXAyoGHjbluM3uJMVc2jUIvDTWi6fzPPlN1rStN0`׉ 7cassandra://adPw8lqLWuW9PNKC7LIw2JusyxEfxFcGu0TuG9OGeS8y`q׉ 7cassandra://YvpnMa6mYwOGBwUaFvO1icV8ZZFn0nBNwLRowp_MtPI%`f8 ywט  u׉׉ 7cassandra://VXws0T9iY_4EhVrYr2zM381lbGPy3z4_rko1eFz_uLc5`׉ 7cassandra://6kfJ21y1sJzST32rXhuXJeSEaivbo5f9cGYL6F27odk~`q׉ 7cassandra://2vIw29c_jp2qhqgLX19Z1fU4bLctRnRGn3LDN1wvI0Q%$`f8 yxנf8 y .69ׁHhttp://INSP.ngׁ ׁ Јנf8 y|69ׁHhttp://INSP.ngׁ ׁ Ј׉ENATIONAL STORY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN AMERICA’S CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM BY TOLEDO STREETS THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM IS COMPLICATED. The system removes children from harmful and potentially lethal situations and strives to ensure familial connections. It also has a long history of inflicting trauma and creating harm in the lives of individuals, families, and communities. Just as complex as the system are the people involved with it. There are those who work for what is in the best interest of children, families, and the community and fight for equity, connection, health, and wholeness. Some embody problematic stereotypes and are not concerned about the well-being of the children, families, or the community. There are many inspirational stories of powerful, even life-changing, experiences that people have with the system, and these are a very important part of a comprehensive understanding of the system and all its nuances. As a former foster parent and kinship care provider, as well as an adoptive mother, I feel compelled to speak about a less encouraging, but still critically important part of the system: the ways that I experienced the system fail. It is not until the problems of a system are brought to light that we can begin to fix them. In my experience, this is a taste of some of the failures of the child welfare system. FAMILIES: NAVIGATING A BUREAUCRATIC SYSTEM Interacting with the child welfare system is difficult and can easily be overwhelming for families between meetings, requirements, and expectations. All these additional activities and obligations can mean leaving work, securing transportation, finding childcare, or possibly even missing out on some of the services required by the system itself. Families are also not always provided with the support that they need to effectively care for their children. Instead of being approached and treated like people who need help, parents may be viewed with little compassion. Yes, many of the parents with children involved in the child welfare system have made bad, often harmful decisions that impacted their children. They also love their children. While case plans are intended to provide support, too often, they are viewed as a checklist of general mandates. This lack of ongoing and individualized support is one of the factors that contributes to children coming back into foster care after being reunited with their parents. Support, information, and guidance for kinship care providers are essentially non-existent. As kinship care providers, we were not given any training or financial support and very little was communicated to us. In addition, kin are not always provided with all the information that they need to make thoughtful decisions. For example, when family members are first approached regarding children in foster care, they are not always informed whether the children are already placed in prospective adoptive homes. These children might have been in these homes for a year or more, forming secure attachments, and it could be highly traumatic for them to be moved elsewhere. FOSTER FAMILIES: INADEQUATE TRAINING AND COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES Through insufficient training and support, foster families are not set up by the system to effectively provide the level of care often required. In addition, communication is one of the biggest challenges as a foster parent. Depending on the caseworker (and their supervisor), many foster parents are not given the basic information that they need to effectively navigate systems and ensure the children in their care have essential support. When it comes to the sharing of information, are legitimate (and legal) reasons to limit there the amount of information that is shared. At the same time, there is a lot of information that can be shared but is not shared or is incorrectly shared. In some cases, foster parents know the children best, yet they are not viewed or brought into conversations as the experts they are. As foster parents, when we were brought in for a meeting to discuss a potential change to a case, it was clear that the decision had already been made. Furthermore, when we questioned a decision that was clearly not in the best interest of the child, we did not experience a willingness to engage in dialogue. Our experience was hostility, an unwillingness to listen, and a doubling down on their original stance. OVERBURDENED CASEWORKERS Caseworkers are overworked, under-resourced, and not supported in the ways to do their jobs effectively and compassionately. The number of cases assigned as well as the lack of consistent training, emotional support, and PHOTO COURTESY OF TOLEDO STREETS / INSP.NGO compensation are not conducive to healthy, compassionate, thoughtful, and engaged employees. Caseworkers see and experience abuse and deplorable situations. They need space, time, and guidance to process the realities of their job. CHALLENGES FACED BY CASA VOLUNTEERS Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers or Guardians at Litem (GAL) are children’s voices in court. Their role is to engage in an independent investigation of the situation, make recommendations to the court, and advocate for what is in the children’s best interest. As foster parents, we had a great experience working with the CASA/GALs. They were supportive and helpful, and we are eternally grateful for their dedication and advocacy for the children in our care. However, the system does not always engage and keep CASA/GALs as informed as it could, which makes their role very difficult. COMMUNITY IMPACT The children and families impacted by the child welfare system are integral members of the communities in which they live. Volunteers, caseworkers, and other community members engaging with the system also experience deleterious impacts. Underdeveloping and traumatizing people is problematic to the entire community for a myriad of reasons. CHILDREN AT THE CENTER The list of the ways that children may be, have been, or are being failed by the system cannot comprehensively be captured in an article. Children are failed when decisions are made that are clearly not in their best interest. They are failed when they are placed or remain in unsafe situations. They are failed when they are removed from the only community that they know to live with people who are complete strangers both to them and their families. They are failed when they transition between placements and their toys, pictures, and other significant items are not moved with them. They are failed when critical information about their biological family is not shared with them. Children are failed when their caregivers are not given or do not seek out, the support that they need to properly care for them. They are failed when the support and services that they need are not available to them. They are failed when they are kept from their biological siblings because they are no longer legally considered siblings (due to adoption). They are failed when they are adopted and returned to the system. They are failed when they age out of the system and do not have the support, connections, and skills they need to flourish. They are failed when cycles of trauma, abuse, and involvement with the system are not broken. OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE CHANGE That is a lot of failure. While I have never encountered a flawless system, the failings of the child welfare system feel especially heavy given that they impact so many and some of the most vulnerable among us. It is critical to recognize these 10 DENVER VOICE September 2024 ׉ 7cassandra://YvpnMa6mYwOGBwUaFvO1icV8ZZFn0nBNwLRowp_MtPI%`f8 yM׉E"NATIONAL STORY shortcomings to make improvements and adjustments. Just as the system has ample opportunities to cause harm, it is also full of potential to improve. Investing more in children’s services staff is imperative. This encompasses providing better support and resources for caseworkers and their supervisors. They play a crucial role in shaping the trajectory of cases and ensuring the sustainability of the entire system. It is essential to ensure that caseworkers receive necessary training, that processes, protocols, and practices are clearly documented, and that effective communication is facilitated within and across departments. We must provide families with more individualized support, access to resources, and guidance. Instead of viewing parents with children involved in the system as simply bad people, let’s cultivate understanding and see them for who they really are. Often, they are individuals who do not have the resources and support that they need to be the parents who they want to be. Increased respect and consideration for the expertise and humanity of foster parents is essential. Effective, consistent communication in a collaborative and caring manner is integral to addressing the current foster home shortage and ensuring long-term sustainability. Providing more support, guidance, and resources to kinship caregivers is crucial. They often step in to provide care for children in their extended family and supporting them adequately is vital for the wellbeing of both caregivers and children. Improved collaboration with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is important for the holistic support of children in the system. Working together can ensure that the needs and best interests of the children are prioritized and met. Having compassion for everyone involved in the system is paramount. Acknowledging the challenges and complexities of the system and honoring the humanity of everyone involved can help to create a more supportive and understanding environment. We must also develop and refine legislation focused on prioritizing the well-being of children. This includes nurturing their attachment needs, ensuring access to necessary services and support, and fostering connections with their biological family when this is safe. Once the legislation is in place, it is crucial to integrate it into the system with careful consideration, attention to detail, and a commitment to continuous improvement. This integration involves aligning policies and practices with the intentions and objectives of the law, ensuring its effective implementation. Finally, for those with the time, energy, and interest: get involved. Our community needs people who can engage with the system from a position of compassion and understanding. Whether it is fostering, providing kinship care, or volunteering with local organizations, like CASA, that support children and families, there are numerous ways to make a meaningful difference. A simple online search or a call to 2-1-1 can provide information about organizations working to educate, strengthen, and empower individuals and families. The reform and change that I am calling for here will not be easy or quick. Shifting long-standing and intricate systems is tough — probably one of the hardest things to do. But I truly believe that we can make strides toward a child welfare system that is more in tune with what families, children, and our community deserves. Let’s co-create a system where compassion, respect, dignity, and trauma responsiveness are more than words on paper, but are also entrenched in everything we do, from policy to action to law. ■ Courtesy of Toledo Streets / INSP.ngo CREDIT: TBEL ABUSERIDZE LARGE DAILY TEMPERATURE SWINGS CAN HARM HUMAN HEALTH BY SHENGJIE LIU AND EMILY SMITH-GREENAWAY THIS SUMMER HAS SHOWN how quickly high temperatures can pose serious health risks, with record-breaking heat waves claiming thousands of lives around the world. However, it’s not just high and low temperatures that matter. How many degrees the temperature swings within a day — the daily temperature variation — itself poses health risks. Studies have found that days with larger than normal temperature swings can increase asthma flare-ups and hospitalizations for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, leading to an overall higher death rate than normal. One study, based on data from 308 cities from 1972 to 2013, estimates that 2.5% of deaths in that time could be attributed to large daily temperature swings. Although humans can live in a wide range of ambient temperatures, a dramatic shift in temperature can tax multiple systems in the body, including the immune, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems. It can be especially taxing on very young and older individuals, who are generally more vulnerable to harsh climates. We mapped daily temperature variations at the neighborhood scale across the U.S. to get a better picture of where these temperature swings are highest and who is most affected. The results highlight how poverty and a legacy of discriminatory practices have left racial minorities and lowincome residents in neighborhoods with more dramatic temperature differences through the day. WHAT AFFECTS TEMPERATURE SWINGS? Large night-to-day temperature swings are more common in some regions, such as the U.S. Southwest, but they can also vary over short distances depending on the landscape and what’s known as the urban heat island effect. For example, the ocean can mitigate rapid temperature changes since water can absorb a lot of heat before it gets hot. The Greater Los Angeles area is a case in point. Santa Monica, a coastal community in Los Angeles County, has much smaller temperature swings then more inland neighborhoods in the county, like downtown Los Angeles. Green space, like forested parks, can also reduce temperature swings. Urban trees and vegetation can keep neighborhoods cooler, reducing the temperature volatility. WHO FACES THE GREATEST TEMPERATURE SWINGS? Using NASA’s satellite data between 2000 and 2017, we crosschecked the daily temperature variation with the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey demographic data at different census tracts to see how race and ethnicity, income, and age affected exposure to daily temperature variations across all 50 states. We found that, of the three demographic factors, exposure to daily temperature variation is the most unequal by race and ethnicity, followed by income. Age mattered the least. In the state with the greatest disparity, Rhode Island, Hispanic and Black populations experienced, on average, daily temperature swings of 31.2 degrees Fahrenheit (17.3 degrees Celsius) in May, while the average daily temperature variation for white populations was 25.8 F (14.3 C). That’s a 5.4 F (3 C) difference between the groups. The contrast between low-income and high-income groups in Rhode Island was 28.6 F (15.9 C) compared with 24.5 F (13.6 C), a 4.1 F (2.3 C) difference. The difference was negligible among age groups, at 1.8 F (1 C). Among the 50 states, we saw significant differences by race and ethnicity in 46 states, by income in 39 states, and by age in 15 states. In general, daily temperature swings were highest in western states, particularly in late spring and summer. The fact that minority populations are disproportionately living in neighborhoods with wider temperature swings confirms yet another dimension of inequality in vulnerability to climate change. TEMPERATURE SWINGS WIDEN WITH CLIMATE CHANGE There is also evidence that temperature swings will get more dramatic over time. From the 1950s to the 1980s, records show shrinking temperature swings globally. Since the 1990s, however, research shows that temperature swings have widened, potentially affecting all life on Earth. Studies suggest that these temperature swings will continue to widen as greenhouse gas emissions, largely from burning fossil fuels, continue to raise global temperatures. And with those increases will come more premature deaths. Under the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s highest emissions scenario (RCP 8.5), which projects conditions in a world that burns increasingly large amounts of fossil fuels, future temperature swings are projected to increase by as much as 2.9 F (1.6 C) by the end of the century. There are ways to reduce the risk, starting with cutting greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, power plants, livestock and other sources. Communities can also take steps to reduce low-income and minority neighborhoods’ exposure to temperature swings by increasing tree cover and using light coatings on roofs to reflect heat away from buildings. They can also provide support programs to help people who can’t otherwise afford to install or power cooling or heating equipment. ■ Courtesy of The Conversation / INSP.ngo September 2024 DENVER VOICE 11 ׉ 7cassandra://2vIw29c_jp2qhqgLX19Z1fU4bLctRnRGn3LDN1wvI0Q%$`f8 yNf8 yM בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://8UaJr-NphJz2puhQGegRyVao3_EQ-9Pjr8Q2E2sQlMw`׉ 7cassandra://FGhhuyMyvtTOlr5Z_RYDqsIhl5vI7OPOXr8WHLk7jAUpz`q׉ 7cassandra://dQRrpWKvEm7J3g6wKmyiTDOnwkaJ3HpeNViW87plaLk$7`f8 y{ט  u׉׉ 7cassandra://c7xhjdQToANradZSVcJN7zKORVNii6wV5toax6phw0o `׉ 7cassandra://8D_aAmVMKPknGJdC99I_ijVP6EtXB8KfPXgSxZ3Baa4m`q׉ 7cassandra://NW5xb4XkuOOnyr8VqO3mGmfJ3QfddqIJh6X3ALbGNhA%4`f8 y}נf8 y܆jՁ9ׁH(http://denverlibrary.org/events/upcomingׁ ׁ Јנf8 y܅̈9ׁHhttp://denlib.org/allseasons.ׁ ׁ Јנf8 y܃j̏9ׁHhttp://jammingonthejetty.comׁ ׁ Јנf8 y܂j̑9ׁHhttp://sunnysidemusicfest.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 y܁jɁ_9ׁHhttp://levittdenver.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 y܀j߁9ׁH%http://instagram.com/palletcitycomedyׁ ׁ Ј׉E IN YOUR OWN WORDS KEEP GOING THROUGH THE TOUGH TIMES BY RAELENE JOHNSON, VOICE VENDOR LIFE CAN GET HARD AT TIMES. Sometimes, you know trouble is coming your way, and you can prepare for it. Most of the time, you will never see trouble coming, and the next thing you know, you are in it. The lucky ones can get out of trouble really fast, but some can’t get out of trouble, and they end up in pain for years. Sometimes, they are the cause of their pain. Sometimes, they suffer from pain caused by others. Hard times will come and go for most of us, yet, for some, when the pain comes to them, they end up lost in their pain, and it can be years before they can be at peace and lose the pain. When you are in a hard time, it is difficult to see a way out. When you have little to no family or friends to see your trouble or pain — there will be no one to reach out to and ask for help. You will feel so very alone. That in itself is a hard place to be. When you have no one who cares about you, loneliness can cause you to grab on to someone else who is not helpful, a person who will keep you at arm's bay, or will just stay away from you, making you even sadder and lonelier than you were. If you are homeless, it gets harder and harder to take rejection. Over time, you may find one or two other homeless people who will become close, so you have each other and watch out for each other. Life on the street is very difficult. Homeless people have to worry about people stealing their things. You have to worry every day about finding safe and hidden places, where no one will see you or attack you while you are sleeping. Women who are homeless have it even harder if they have no one to keep an eye out for them. Two people working together is much better than one person alone. It will be safer to have people who watch out for each other while homeless. Hard times will always be part of our lives. Don’t give up. Don’t stay in pain. Just keep fighting through the hard times. Don’t let it overwhelm you. Believe you will overcome whatever you are going through. You can and will get through it with time, but the outcome depends on how you handle the situation. If you give up, things will only get harder. Hard times are long dark tunnels. When you enter that darkness, you can’t see the light at the other end but know that the light will come. Then, when you get to the other end, you will finally see the light. Just remember that even when you are in pain, there is always light — even if you cannot see it. Know that you can overcome hard times if you really want to. Do not give up on Self! Only Self can defeat Self. RAELENE JOHNSON. CREDIT: KAREN BEEMAN Know that there is help out there. All you have to do is ask. Do not suffer by yourself. It is okay to ask for help. A closed mouth does not help you get anything! You have to open your mouth to ask for the help you need. You will find that some people really want to help, but you need to ask. My prayer is that no one suffers alone but instead finds compassionate people to help them. If you see someone you know is hurting, see if you can help them, or help them to find the right help if you can’t help them. Don’t look away, hoping someone else will help. Someone else may not help. Just understand that you are not alone or have to go through hard times without any help. Let’s start looking out for one another, and the world will be a better place. ■ NFL 2024-5 ILLUSTRATION BY CHARLES SPRING, VOICE VENDOR ILLUSTRATION BY CHARLES SPRING 12 DENVER VOICE September 2024 ׉ 7cassandra://dQRrpWKvEm7J3g6wKmyiTDOnwkaJ3HpeNViW87plaLk$7`f8 yO׉EdEVENTS PALLET CITY COMEDY SHOW We all need more laughter in our lives. The Pallet City Comedy Show is a bi-weekly comedy showcase featuring some of the city’s best comedians, as well as its rising stars. This FREE event occurs every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month. WHEN: Sep 6 and 20, 8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. COST: Free WHERE: Locust Cider Belmar, 7260 W. Alaska Dr. Unit A INFO: instagram.com/palletcitycomedy YOGA ON THE LAWN Enjoy a free vinyasa yoga class on the lawn. Open to all skill levels and ages. Bring your own yoga mat, towel, or feel free to practice in the grass. WHEN: Sep 7 and 14, 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. COST: Free WHERE: Levitt Pavilion Denver, 1380 W. Florida Ave. INFO: levittdenver.org SUNNYSIDE MUSIC FESTIVAL Enjoy a family-friendly day in the park with live music, community vendors, activities for the kids, delicious grub, and local brews. This event is free and open to all. WHEN: Sep 14, 12 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. COST: Free WHERE: Chaffee Park, W. 44th Ave. & Tejon St. INFO: sunnysidemusicfest.org JAMMING ON THE JETTY Jamming on the Jetty is a free, family-friendly event that includes live music, local food and drink, and community vendors. Bring your own chairs or blankets and discover your new favorite band. All proceeds go towards cleaning up the lake. WHEN: Sep 21, 1 p.m. - 8 p.m. COST: Free entry WHERE: Sloan’s Lake, 4700 West Bryon Place INFO: jammingonthejetty.com ACROSS Across 1. Recurring ideas 7. Mainstay 13. Shiraz resident 15. Pea preparer 16. Like many drinks 17. Distortion 18. Magician’s name ending 19. Put in writing 21. ___-tac-toe 22. ___-Cola 24. Backless seat 25. Termite, e.g. 26. Muffler 28. Capt.’s inferiors 29. Rhythms 30. Hard to get through to 32. Gap 34. Fool’s end? 35. Beaver sch. 36. Little Bighorn loser 39. Certain fertilizers 42. Insured’s contribution 43. Acapulco article 45. Physics lab device, for short 47. “Transparent” actress Kathryn 48. Target competitor 50. Girl lead-in 51. Sharp feller 52. Grainy-textured 54. The Pointer Sisters’ “___ So Shy” 55. Western New York county 57. Seven days from now 59. Bars 60. City on the Rhine that you might expect to smell quite masculine? 61. Comes down hard, in a way 62. Share again on social media DOWN 1. Impersonates 2. River that empties into the Atlantic in Venezuela 3. Car for hire 4. ___ nutshell 5. Whopper juniors? 6. Corporate department 7. Wrap 8. Relative of a gull 9. High peak 10. It’s on the level 11. Ones skilled in laws 12. Builds 14. Irk 15. Rushing sound 20. “i” lid 23. Goldsmith, e.g. 25. Porky’s love 27. Old-fashioned 29. Kind of metabolism 31. That vessel 33. Acronym that, when spelled aloud, sounds exactly like the sentence it stands for 36. Like networking cables 37. Cause a major disturbance in 38. Some ballroom dances 39. Tasty clove 40. Busy 41. Silky fabrics 42. Monastery music 44. Pick up 46. Coffin 48. Typeface features 49. Pavarotti, notably 52. Hair line 53. Valley 56. “You don’t say!” 58. Doo-___ COURTESY OF DEBORAH LASTOWKA PUZZLES COURTESY OF STREETROOTS ANSWERS ARE ON PAGE 15 MULTIGENERATIONAL SINGING WITH SWALLOW HILL MUSIC Come explore the joy of singing with others in the All Seasons Choir, a multigenerational community choir in partnership with Swallow Hill Music. WHEN: Sep 30, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. COST: Free but space is limited, and interested participants must apply at denlib.org/allseasons. WHERE: Swallow Hill Music School, 71 E. Yale Ave. INFO: denverlibrary.org/events/upcoming September 2024 DENVER VOICE 13 PUZZLE COURTESY OF STREET ROOTS, DENVER VOICE’S SISTER PAPER IN PORTLAND, OR PUZZLE COURTESY OF STREET ROOTS, DENVER VOICE’S SISTER PAPER IN PORTLAND, OR ׉ 7cassandra://NW5xb4XkuOOnyr8VqO3mGmfJ3QfddqIJh6X3ALbGNhA%4`f8 yPf8 yO בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://cRD6T0dbxDJeTM2eWVJeHYYAhvkSiilb30EYBLMszVYkT`׉ 7cassandra://YawLVlgthKXMrGYYf9x2jhMhT6Z-C4K_F2FBedkj-jke`q׉ 7cassandra://Y8wELLOvPV4xIMGOl71KbahpVTJNxeuZR5G71RJ-Vmo!v`f8 y܄ט  u׉׉ 7cassandra://Jf7rVvfq2pAX1-EA5it51StxxeWW6pqfS5KNPdXIv1Id`׉ 7cassandra://1yOv2LLw-RJTaH7jxqJBeoASsosgBKL-e9iX--Nc65wq`q׉ 7cassandra://vRLN6DGUqjAht4CazAkY0je-P4nrn21puo07u_4cSMQ!q`f8 y܇Bנf8 y΁̻ 9ׁHhttp://voacolorado.org/gethelpׁ ׁ Јנf8 ýG 9ׁHhttp://lovedenver.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 ý N 9ׁHhttp://soallmayeat.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yˁYf 9ׁHhttp://saintpauldenver.comׁ ׁ Јנf8 yʁ w1@ 9ׁHhttp://sfcdenver.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yɁ {f 9ׁHhttp://stelizabethdenver.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yȁ` 9ׁHhttp://stpeterandmary.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yǁہh 9ׁHhttp://odmdenver.org/homeׁ ׁ Јנf8 yƁ ̩ 9ׁH&http://jordanamedenver.churchfoyer.comׁ ׁ Јנf8 yŁ Gc 9ׁHhttp://holyghostchurch.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yāe 9ׁHhttp://hislovefellowship.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yÁ ?\] 9ׁHhttp://krishnadenver.comׁ ׁ Јנf8 y -̺ 9ׁH+http://feedingdenvershungry.org/events.htmlׁ ׁ Јנf8 y R 9ׁHhttp://havenofhope.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yx 9ׁHhttp://denverrescuemission.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܿ.ׁS 9ׁHhttp://mealsforpoor.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܾ QE 9ׁHhttp://citysquare.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܽaX 9ׁHhttp://christinthecity.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܼ oJ 9ׁHhttp://christsbody.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܻ wGb 9ׁHhttp://denvercathedral.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܺU0S 9ׁHhttp://mealsforpoor.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܹ 6̔ 9ׁH%http://capitolheightspresbyterian.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܸ ā@ 9ׁHhttp://sfcdenver.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܷ I 9ׁHhttp://odmdenver.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܶ! 9ׁH(http://homelessassistance.us/li/lawrenceׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܵ gEc 9ׁHhttp://holyghostchurch.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܴ.̙ 9ׁH$http://harmreductionactioncenter.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܳ C 9ׁHhttp://tgpdenver.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܲ* 9ׁHhttp://thoh.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܱ:E 9ׁHhttp://citysquare.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܰ*FH 9ׁHhttp://urbanpeak.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܯ<* 9ׁHhttp://tgthr.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܮ%̕ 9ׁH#http://sunshinebehavioralhealth.comׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܭ;, 9ׁH$http://urbanpeak.org/denver/programsׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܬ e 9ׁHhttp://veteransguide.org/vaׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܫrM 9ׁH.http://va.gov/findlocations/facility/vha_554A5ׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܪ]6| 9ׁH http://seniorsupportservices.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܩ( 9ׁHhttp://dicp.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܨc 9ׁHhttp://truecolorsunited.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܧ̐ 9ׁHhttp://lgbthotline.org/youthׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܦza 9ׁHhttp://thetrevorproject.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܥ<E 9ׁHhttp://work-now.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܤ%M 9ׁH0http://careercenteroffices.com/center/231/denverׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܣf 9ׁHhttp://denverlibrary.org/ctcׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܢl̎ 9ׁH!mailto:info@bayaudenterprises.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܡTD 9ׁHhttp://thehotline.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܠ=k 9ׁHhttp://urbanpeaksrehab.comׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܟG̟ 9ׁH'http://detoxrehabs.net/states/colorado/ׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܞ7̞ 9ׁH'http://coloradocoalition.org/healthcareׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܝց̒ 9ׁHhttp://saludclinic.org/commerceׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܜY. 9ׁHhttp://rainn.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܛcW 9ׁHhttp://1800runaway.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܚDF 9ׁHhttp://988lifeline.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܙaP 9ׁHhttp://viventhealth.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܘSå 9ׁHmailto:info@hepc-connection.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܗe9[ 9ׁHhttp://liveanotherday.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܖk̙ 9ׁH$http://harmreductionactioncenter.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܕy 9ׁHhttp://drugrehabus.org/rehabs/ׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܔ7I 9ׁHhttp://detoxlocal.comׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܓ(qS 9ׁHhttp://denverhealth.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܒXZ 9ׁHhttp://daccaa.org/centralׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܑZ" 9ׁHhttp://aa.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 yܐ7B 9ׁHhttp://al-anon.org/alׁ ׁ Јנf8 y܏B< 9ׁHhttp://al-anon.orgׁ ׁ Јנf8 y܎̹9ׁHmailto:EDITOR@DENVERVOICE.ORGׁ ׁ Јנf8 y܍uR9ׁHhttp://DENVERVOICE.ORG/RESOURCEׁ ׁ Ј׉EDONOR LIST WE LOVE OUR DONORS! WHEN YOU SUPPORT THE DENVER VOICE, YOU ARE HELPING SUPPORT HUNDREDS OF HOMELESS AND IMPOVERISHED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WORKING TO REALIZE SELF-SUFFICIENCY THROUGH EARNING A DIGNIFIED INCOME. YOUR GIFT MAKES A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS. HERE, WE LIST THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN $500 AND MORE IN THE LAST YEAR. DENVERVOICE.ORG/DONATE $10,000+ Meek-Cuneo Family Fund Anonymous Individual Donor Matt and Nikki Seashore Acorn Hill Foundation Inc. Pivotal Energy Partners USA, Inc. Cisco Francis Trainer and Trainer Family J. Albrecht Designs Master Goldsmith $5,000 - $9,999 Anschutz Family Foundation Laurie Duncan and Duncan-Mcwethy Foundation Colorado Housing and Finance Authority Alexander Seavall Frederic K Conover Trust Mary Walker & Walker Family Foundation The Christian Foundation Bank of America Charitable Foundation Sustainable Housing and Development Foundation Envestnet $1,000-$4,999 Christopher Boulanger Joshua Kauer Katherine Standiford Jill Haug Donald Weaver Whole Foods Foundation Michael Dino Alex Salva Signs By Tomorrow Rose Community Foundation Russell Peterson SEI Giving Fund Chris and Susan Pappas Julia and David Watson Gaspar Terrana Warren and Betty Kuehner Sidney B and Caleb F Gates Fund Megan Arellano James and Cyndi Lesslie Keyrenter Property Management Denver Mathew Rezek The Credit Union of Colorado Foundation Jana and Jim Cuneo Kroger Paul Manoogian Lori Holland Jeremy Anderson and Thomas Stalker Maggie Holben Michael J. Fehn and Jan Monnier Jim Ashe Courage and Community Foundation George Lichter Family Foundation Lisa Wagner Elsbeth Williams KO Law Firm Graham Davis Peter Iannuzzi $500-$999 Margaret Ramp John Gibson Sheryl Parker Ruth Henderson Fire on the Mountain Craig Solomon Laura Saunders Robert E and Anne T Sneed Family Foundation Barbara and Robert Ells Carol and Louis Irwin Edwina Salazar James Stegman Jennifer Stedron Stephen Saul WalMart Nikki Lawson CEDS Finance Impact Assets Courage and Community Foundation Louis Irwin Mary Livernois Mr B’s Liquor Wines For Humanity KL&A Engineers and Builders 14 DENVER VOICE September 2024 SPONSORSHIP LEVELS THE DENVER VOICE’S ANNUAL SPONSORSHIP SUPPORT LEVELS PROVIDE BUSINESSES LIKE YOURS THE OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN WORK EMPOWERMENT, HOMELESS PREVENTION, THE CHALLENGING OF COMMUNITY PERCEPTIONS, AND TO BE A PART OF PROVIDING OUR COMMUNITY WITH QUALITY AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE THROUGH OUR WRITERS AND VENDORS – AN INVALUABLE PART OF DENVER’S COMMUNITY. YOUR INVOLVEMENT WILL HELP HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING POSITIVE ACTION TO COMBAT HOMELESSNESS AND IMPOVERISHMENT. AS A SPONSOR, YOU HAVE A WAY TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND GIVE SOMETHING BACK AT THE SAME TIME. ANNUAL SPONSORSHIPS BENEFITS INCLUDE YOUR LOGO LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE HOMEPAGE, MONTHLY AD SPACE IN OUR PAPER, AND SPECIAL EVENT PERKS FOR YOU AND YOUR EMPLOYEES ALL YEAR LONG. IT’S A GOOD DEAL FOR A GOOD CAUSE, AND YOUR GIFT IS 100% TAX-DEDUCTIBLE! ABOVE THE FOLD: $5,000 • One complimentary full page ad in the newspaper ($1,000 value) • Table of 10 and Sponsor recognition at annual Rise and Thrive Breakfast (200 attendees) • Sponsorship recognition at our annual Pints Fighting Poverty event (200 attendees) • Business logo highlighted on website homepage, and in the Above the Fold Sponsorship list • Logo highlighted in our annual report, along with logo in quarterly support feature of the paper GALLEY: $2,500 • One complimentary half page ad in the newspaper ($600 value) • Table of 10 and Sponsor recognition at annual Rise and Thrive Breakfast (200 attendees) • Sponsorship recognition at our annual Pints Fighting Poverty event (200 attendees) • Business logo highlighted on website homepage, and in the Galley Sponsorship list • Logo highlighted in our annual report, along with logo in quarterly support feature of the paper HONOR BOX: $1,000 • Table of 10 and Sponsor recognition at annual Rise and Thrive Breakfast (200 attendees) • Sponsorship recognition at our annual Pints Fighting Poverty event (200 attendees) • Business logo highlighted on website homepage, and in the Honor Box Sponsorship list • Logo highlighted in our annual report, along with logo in quarterly support feature of the paper FLY SHEET: $500 • Two complimentary tickets to our annual Pints Fighting Poverty event ($50 value) • Business logo highlighted on website homepage, and in the Fly Sheet Sponsorship list • Logo highlighted in our annual report, along with logo in quarterly support feature of the paper ׉ 7cassandra://Y8wELLOvPV4xIMGOl71KbahpVTJNxeuZR5G71RJ-Vmo!v`f8 yQ׉E(RESOURCE LIST FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN DENVER DENVERVOICE.ORG/RESOURCE-LIST DIAL 211 FOR A MORE COMPLETE LIST OF RESOURCES IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. PROVIDES INFORMATION FOR FOOD, MEDICAL CARE, SENIOR SERVICES, YOUTH PROGRAMS, VETERAN SUPPORT COUNSELING, EDUCATION, SHELTERS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, HOLIDAY ASSISTANCE, AND MORE. EMAIL EDITOR@DENVERVOICE.ORG WITH CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS. MEDICAL / MENTAL HEALTH / DENTAL SERVICES ALANON FAMILY GROUPS: al-anon.org; Find a meeting: al-anon.org/al-anon-meetings/find-an-al-anon-meeting ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: aa.org; Colorado Service Centers; daccaa.org/central-office/other-central-offices DENVER HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER: 777 Bannock St.; denverhealth.org DETOX LOCAL: Features information including mental health and substance use resources specifically for the AAPI (American Asian and Pacific Islander) community; detoxlocal.com DRUG REHAB USA: Addiction hotline 888-479-0446; Organizations that take Medicaid: drugrehabus.org/rehabs/ treatment/medicaid/united-states/colorado/denver HARM REDUCTION ACTION CENTER: 112 E. 8th Ave.; 303-572-7800; HIV/Hep C/ Gonorrhea/ Chlamydia testing available. Services are restricted to active IV Drug Users. Offers clean syringes to active users, as well as safety training on proper disposal of dirty syringes; M-F 9am-12pm: harmreductionactioncenter.org INNER CITY HEALTH CENTER: 3800 York St.; Emergency walk-ins 303-296-1767; Dental 303-296-4873; M-F 8am-2pm LIVE ANOTHER DAY: 877-596-6866; Equal access to life-saving mental health and substance abuse resources; 24/7 helpline: liveanotherday.org LIVER HEALTH CONNECTION: 1325 S. Colorado Blvd.; Suite B302; Resources and support for those affected by Hep C. Free Hep C testing offered; 800-522-4372, 800-359-9272; info@hepc-connection.org; viventhealth.org NATIONAL AIDS HOTLINE: 800-342-AIDS/800-344-7432 NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE: Text or call 988; 988lifeline.org NATIONAL RUNAWAY SAFELINE: 800-RUNAWAY/800-786-2929; 1800runaway.org RAPE ABUSE AND INCEST NATIONAL NETWORK: 800-656-HOPE; rainn.org SALUD CLINIC: 6255 Quebec Pkwy, Commerce City; 303-697-2583, 970-484-0999; saludclinic.org/commerce-city STOUT STREET CLINIC: 2130 Stout St.; 303-293-2220; Clinic Hours: 7am-4pm M/T/Th/F; 9am-6pm Wed; coloradocoalition.org/healthcare SUBSTANCE ABUSE REHAB GUIDE: Helpline 888-493-4670; detoxrehabs.net/states/colorado/ URBAN PEAKS REHAB: 490 Lafayette St., #104; 303-599-5131; Medication management and therapy center specializing in opiate addiction; M, T, Th – 9am-12pm, 1 pm-4pm, W – 9am-12pm, 1 pm-7pm; urbanpeaksrehab.com U.S. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE: 800-799-7233 (English and Spanish); 800-243-7889 (TDD); thehotline.org CAREER SERVICES BAYAUD ENTERPRISES CW-STEP: (Colorado Works - Subsidized training and employment program); 333 W. Bayaud Ave.; 303-830-6885; Mon-Fri: 8am-4:30pm; Provides re-entry to the workforce for individuals with TANF eligibility; info@bayaudenterprises.org COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CENTER: Level 4, Denver Central Library, 14th Ave. & Broadway; 720-865-1706; M & T - 10am-8pm; Wed., Th &F - 10am-6pm; Sat. 9am-5pm & Sun. 1-5pm; FREE services include computer/internet use, WIFI, computer classes, job search/resume classes and one-on-one tech help appointments; denverlibrary.org/ctc THE WESTSIDE ONE-STOP CAREER CENTER: Denver Dept of Human Services, 1200 Federal Blvd.; M-F 7:30am-4:30pm; Employment counseling, assisted job search, résumé prep, job/applicant matching, phone bank for calling employers, access to computers, copiers, fax, etc.; careercenteroffices.com/center/231/denver-westside-workforce-center WORKNOW: 720-389-0999; job recruitment, skills training, and job placement work-now.org LGBTQ+ SUPPORT THE TREVOR PROJECT: 866-488-7386: thetrevorproject.org LGBT NATIONAL YOUTH TALKLINE: 800-246-7743: lgbthotline.org/youth-talkline PRIDE INSTITUTE: 800-547-7433 TRUE COLORS UNITE: 212-461-4401 truecolorsunited.org VETERANS & SENIORS DENVER INNER CITY PARISH: 1212 Mariposa St.; 303-322-5733; VOA Dining Center for Seniors, aged 60 and older, Wed.-Sat. 9am-12pm; Food Bank, Wed.-Fri.; Tickets at 9am, food bank open 10am-12pm; dicp.org SENIOR SUPPORT SERVICES: 846 E. 18th Ave.; For those aged 60 or older; TV room, bus tokens, mental/physical health outreach, 3 meals, M-F -7am-7pm; Sun. 11am-4pm; seniorsupportservices.org VA MEDICAL CENTER: 1700 N Wheeling St.: Aurora 303-399-8020: va.gov/findlocations/facility/vha_554A5 VETERANS GUIDE: Veterans Disability Calculator veteransguide.org/va-disability-calculator YOUTH SERVICES SOX PLACE: 2017 Larimer St.; 303-296-3412 Daytime drop-in shelter for youth 12-30; Meals, socks, clothing bank, personal hygiene supplies, internet access, intentional mentoring and guidance, crisis intervention, referrals to other services. T-F - 12-4pm & Sat. 11am-2pm. Instagram: @Soxplace THE SPOT AT URBAN PEAK: 2100 Stout St. 303-291-0442; Youth aged 15-20 in need of immediate overnight shelter services, 303-974-2928; Drop-in hours M-F 8-11am urbanpeak.org/denver/programs-and-services/drop-in-center SUNSHINE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: 833-931-2484; Services for youth facing substance abuse, addiction, mental health disorders, or a combination of these conditions; sunshinebehavioralhealth.com TGTHR (FKA ATTENTION HOMES) Shelter: 3080 Broadway, Boulder; 303-447-1207, 303-447-1207; For ages 12-24; Offers safe shelter, supportive programming, and other services; M-Sun, 12:30-5pm; tgthr.org September 2024 DENVER VOICE 15 URBAN PEAK: 730 21st St., Denver; 303-974-2900; Ages14-24; Serving Denver & Colo Springs; Overnight shelter, food, clothing, showers, case workers, job skill/straining, ID and birth certificate assistance, GED assistance, counseling and housing; urbanpeak.org DROP-IN & DAYTIME CENTERS CITYSQUARE DENVER: 2575 S. Broadway; 303-783-3777;; Helps with employment, IDs, birth certs, mail services and lockers; M-Th - 10am-2pm; citysquare.org HAVEN OF HOPE: 1101 W. 7th Ave.; 303-607-0855; M-F - 7am-1pm; Private showers & bathrooms, laundry, lunch, etc.; thoh.org THE GATHERING PLACE: 1535 High St.; 303-321-4198; Daytime drop-in center for women, their children, and transgender individuals; Meals, computer lab, phones, food bank, clothing, art programs, GED tutoring, referrals to other services, etc.; M, W, Th, F - 8:30am-5pm, T - 8:30am-1:30pm; tgpdenver.org HARM REDUCTION ACTION CENTER: 231 E. Colfax; 303-572-7800; Provides clean syringes, syringe disposal, harmreduction counseling, safe materials, Hep C/HIV education, and health education classes; M-F - 9am-12pm; harmreductionactioncenter.org HOLY GHOST CATHOLIC CHURCH: 1900 California St.; Help with lost IDs and birth certificates; holyghostchurch.org HOPE PROGRAM: 1555 Race St.; 303-832-3354; For men and women with HIV; M-F 8am-4pm LAWRENCE STREET COMMUNITY CENTER: 2222 Lawrence St.; 303-294-0157; Day facility, laundry, showers, restrooms, access to services; homelessassistance.us/li/lawrence-street-community-center OPEN DOOR MINISTRIES: 1567 Marion St.; bathrooms, coffee/tea, snacks, resources, wifi; M-F 7a-5:30p; odmdenver.org ST. FRANCIS CENTER: 2323 Curtis St; 303-297-1576; 6am-6pm daily; Storage for one bag (when space is available); Satellite Clinic hours- M, T, Th. F - 7:30am-3:30pm; Wed. 12:30-4:30pm; sfcdenver.org FREE MEALS AGAPE CHRISTIAN CHURCH: 2501 California St., Sat., 11am CAPITOL HEIGHTS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: 1100 Fillmore St., Sat. lunch at 11:30am; capitolheightspresbyterian.org CAPITOL HILL COMMUNITY SERVICES: mealsforpoor.org CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION: 1530 Logan St.; sandwiches & coffee M-F. 8:30am; denvercathedral.org CHRIST’S BODY MINISTRIES: 850 Lincoln; Mon. closed, Tues.-Thurs. 10am-3pm, Fri. 8am-11pm; groceries & hot meal on Sat. at 2pm (at 16th & York); Sun. church service at 6pm, dinner at 7pm; christsbody.org CHRIST IN THE CITY: Home-cooked meal, weekly; Lunch in the Park is on Wednesdays from 12-1 at Benedict Fountain Park (Tremont and 22nd); christinthecity.org CITYSQUARE DENVER: 2575 S. Broadway; 303-783-3777; Food pantry Tues. 10am-6pm; citysquare.org CAPITOL HILL COMMUNITY SERVICES: 1820 Broadway (in front of Trinity United Methodist Church); Hot meals served M, T, Th., F - 11:45-12:15; mealsforpoor.org DENVER RESCUE MISSION: 1130 Park Avenue West; 303-294-0157; 3 meals 7 days/week, 5:30am, 12pm, 6pm; denverrescuemission.org HAVEN OF HOPE: 1101 W. 7th Ave.; 303-607-0855; M-F only: 7am-1pm. 8am breakfast, 11am lunch; havenofhope.org FEEDING DENVER’S HUNGRY: Food service on second and fourth Thursdays; feedingdenvershungry.org/events.html FOOD NOT BOMBS: Sun. 4 p.m.; 22nd St. Stout St (near Mercury Café); Instagram: @denverfoodnotbombs HARE KRISHNA TEMPLE: 1400 Cherry St., free vegetarian feast on Sun., 6:45-7:30pm; krishnadenver.com HIS LOVE FELLOWSHIP CHURCH: 910 Kalamath St.; Community dinner on Thurs., 6-6:45pm, Men’s breakfast 1st Sat. of the month, 8-10am, Women’s breakfast 2nd Sat., 9-11am; hislovefellowship.org HOLY GHOST CATHOLIC CHURCH: 1900 California St.; Sandwiches, M-Sat., 10-10:30am; holyghostchurch.org JORDAN AME CHURCH: 29th and Milwaukee St.; Tues. lunch 11:30am-1:00pm; jordanamedenver.churchfoyer.com OPEN DOOR MINISTRIES: 1567 Marion St.; 303-830-2201; Sat. morning breakfast: 8am, Sun. dinner (required church attendance at 4:30pm); meal served at 6pm; odmdenver.org/home ST. CLARE’S MINISTRY AT ST. PETER AND ST. MARY: 126 W. 2nd Ave.; 303-722-8781 Dinner at 4pm on Tues; Also offers a change of clothes, toiletries and sleeping bags when available; stpeterandmary.org ST. ELIZABETH’S: Speer Blvd. & Arapahoe St. (Auraria Campus), 11am 7 days/week; food/coffee; stelizabethdenver.org ST. FRANCIS CENTER: 2323 Curtis St., Wed. & Fri. 3-4:30pm (except third Wed. of each month); sfcdenver.org ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN: 1600 Grant St., Street Reach meal Mon. 1-4:30pm; Grocery room open at 11:30am every Mon.; saintpauldenver.com SAME CAFÉ: 2023 E. Colfax Ave; 720-530-6853;Restaurant serving mostly organic food—not free, but pay what you can or work off your meal in the kitchen; Open Mon.-Sat., 11am to 2pm, Closed Sun. & holidays; soallmayeat.org URBAN OUTREACH DENVER: 608 26th St., Thurs dinners, 6pm-7pm; lovedenver.org VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA: 2877 Lawrence St.; breakfast (8am), lunch (11:30am), dinner (5pm) Mon.-Thurs., 12pm on Fri., 1pm on Sun.; food & clothing bank 9:30am-4pm Mon.-Thurs.; voacolorado.org/gethelp-denvermetrofoodnutrition-themission DON’T LOOK NOW! PUZZLES ARE ON PAGE 13 ׉ 7cassandra://vRLN6DGUqjAht4CazAkY0je-P4nrn21puo07u_4cSMQ!q`f8 yRf8 yQ בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://R0wztIhg_bOjb80DfB3BYfjcFsbddC2CUC91GkSu0Zw`׉ 7cassandra://Pq_r2Qm0WWsJUQGAObDGUy-lb558cw7WrmYJN-Bj9kEi`q׉ 7cassandra://XCrl4Ye2QxT_J_HilTVEokOPsSzNcWFvBcjgKXddfLM'`f8 y܋נf8 yρ9ׁHhttp://DENVERVOICE.ORG/DONATEׁ ׁ Ј׉ERWHAT DO WE DO TO HELP? Since 2007, the VOICE has provided jobs for more than 4,600 people experiencing housing or financial instability. For every dollar we take in, we put $3.00 directly back into the pockets of those who need it most. WITH YOUR HELP, WE CAN DO MORE. SCAN THIS CODE TO SET UP YOUR DONATION TODAY! DENVERVOICE.ORG/DONATE ׉ 7cassandra://XCrl4Ye2QxT_J_HilTVEokOPsSzNcWFvBcjgKXddfLM'`f8 yS׈Ef8 yTf8 yS ,9-2024f}\