Gifting to the Community

Boulder County nonprofits spreading goodwill this season

By Matt Maenpaa

As the holiday season quickly approaches, we celebrate more than just milk, cookies and toys. It’s the time of year to support your community, give back to others and shine a little light while the days are short and the nights are long. 

With more than 2,000 nonprofits registered in Boulder County, finding the ones in need of support can be a struggle itself. Here at Boulder Magazine, we’ve chosen a handful of these groups, varied in scope and mission, that are doing their part to make a difference where we live.

Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

Located in Lyons, just off CO Hwy 66, Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center has been providing professional care for wild creatures along the Front Range since 1982.

“Over the past 42 years, our mission has revolved around providing compassionate care to orphaned, injured and sick wild animals in need in Colorado,” says Mysti Tatro, community relations manager at Greenwood.

“We’ve treated more than 200 different species since our inception,” Tatro continues. “More recently, professionals in the field have realized the importance of humane solutions to wildlife conflict in order to live harmoniously with our wild neighbors and help protect them from human impacts. Because of this, we’ve also simultaneously been dedicated to providing education to the public.”

Taking in animals from hummingbirds up to coyotes, the staff at Greenwood are up to the task, but there’s always room for the community. In-kind donations of necessities go a long way, she says, but there are plenty of volunteer opportunities available. The simplest things are sharing their educational tips on social media or attending events, but hands-on folks could build nest boxes or even feed baby squirrels.

Financial donations support Greenwood’s educational programs, as well as the “Bunny Hotel” that helps the organization care for more than 400 rabbits each year. The next big addition is a cargo van, Tatro explains. Funds have already been partially raised, but it needs to be equipped with specialty equipment for their wild wards.

Visit greenwoodwildlife.org or call 303-823-8455 for questions, wildlife concerns or animal emergencies.

Voices for Children, CASA of Boulder County

Providing advocacy, care and support for children who have experienced abuse, Voices for Children (VFC) has served Boulder County since 1985, founded shortly after the national program was created in Seattle.

Working closely with Boulder County’s family courts, also known as the Magistrate, VFC provides court-appointed special advocates (CASA) who support children during cases and ensure their continued well-being.

“Right now, more than 250 youth in Boulder County are supported by a CASA volunteer,” says VFC outreach manager Olivia Temple. “A trusting adult who can hear their needs, fight for their rights and guide them towards a brighter future.”

Prior to 2020, Temple says, only half the children going through the family courts were supported by VFC, but the program has expanded in collaboration with VFC’s board and Boulder County’s courts. Since that expansion, the Magistrate has worked to appoint a CASA to every case of abuse and neglect, Temple adds.

“Our CASA volunteers serve as powerful voices for the children they support, with the goal that each case closes resulting in safe and permanent placement for the child,” she says. “Children are typically navigating the foster care system during this time, and CASAs are a consistent and stable adult presence in their life.”

VFC provides all the necessary training, vetting and ongoing support a volunteer needs, Temple says, but there is always a need for adults over the age of 21 and particularly those who are bilingual and of diverse backgrounds.

For more information about volunteering and supporting Voices for Children, visit vfcboulder.org

A Way Forward

Founded in August 2020 as a response to the dramatic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, as well as continuing struggles with substance abuse disorders, A Way Forward is dedicated to removing the barriers to treatment.

“We know addiction doesn’t take a day off and neither do we,” says A Way Forward executive director Debbie Platts. “AWF is open 11 hours a day, 7 days a week. When someone is ready to ask for help, we want the hand of recovery to be there. We save lives.”

Located near Roosevelt Park in downtown Longmont, the resource center is free to those in need and available to walk-ins as well. Since the start of 2024, Platts says, the organization has helped more than 10,000 people on their path to recovery. They respect individual privacy, never requiring identification and offer services free of judgment, she adds.

From outpatient recovery using twelve step methods and individual coaching, as well as support groups, mental health classes and family care, AWF wants the community in need to find a road that works best for them. Many of the programs are also peer-supported, Platts says, encouraging community building and advocacy from within. 

“Evidence suggests that a peer-supported community program focused on self-determination can have a significant impact on recovery from substance addictions and homelessness,” she says. “All our staff have walked the road of recovery either personally or with family members.”

In-kind donations of necessities, such as household supplies, snacks and materials, are always needed and wish lists can be found at awfnobarriers.org, Platts says. Volunteers are welcomed as well, she says, and the community is always invited to AWF’s communal Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. 

Firehouse Art Center

Starting in 1986 as a collaboration between artists needing a space to create and share art, the Firehouse Art Center in Longmont has grown into a beacon for the arts community in Boulder County. The historic building now hosts a rotating gallery of artists from around the world, supports local creatives and provides educational programs for all ages.

“Our vision is to shape Longmont’s creative identity and improve our community’s quality of life by providing meaningful engagement with art and culture,” says Firehouse executive director Elaine Waterman.

Waterman stepped into her role as executive director mere weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns, and those circumstances encouraged the organization to explore more outreach classes for vulnerable and under-resourced populations, she explains. From bilingual programs in English and Spanish and direct collaboration with local school districts to creating LGBTQ fashion programs like Slay the Runway, artist members, staff and volunteers continue to expand the reach of the Firehouse Art Center.

“I don’t feel like offering these new programs was a change in mission but more a product of the pandemic, where we had an opportunity to try a lot of different things,” Waterman says. “It wasn’t a purposeful evolution of mission, but an increasing commitment to listening to the needs of our community.”

Recognizing that financial contributions aren’t always feasible, Waterman says volunteering at events or to “art sit” in the gallery are incredibly valuable to the Firehouse. Gallery entry is free to the community, and visitors are always quite welcome.

“We are a place where anyone can be inspired, where people can find their creative voices and then raise that voice to make a positive change,” she adds.

Visit the gallery at 667 4th Ave, Longmont or online at firehouseart.org

Wildland Restoration Volunteers

In the spring of 1999, community members planted willow trees at the Pella Crossing open space between Lyons and Longmont. Since then, Wildland Restoration Volunteers (WRV) have helped plant seeds and foster the care of Colorado’s natural spaces. As of 2023, WRV has coordinated more than 2,000 projects and estimated $15M in volunteer time and expertise.

“We now organize thousands of volunteers every year to complete over 150 conservation projects throughout Colorado,” says WRV administrative coordinator Jess Turner. “We envision a world in which all people are empowered stewards of the land.”

Celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, WRV has expanded their reach to include volunteer leadership development, bilingual crew members and youth and inclusiveness programs. The projects cover a variety of habitats, facilitating native seed collection, invasive species removal and sustainable trail building. WRV has also coordinated projects with waterways and areas impacted by the wildfires that have ravaged Colorado in recent years.

The variety of work means there is something for all experience and interests, Turner says. Activities range from easy to strenuous and include family-friendly events and trainings. 

“We’re always so excited to meet new volunteers, and to share the joy of connecting with our land and experiencing the outdoors as a relationship,” Turner says. “No experience is needed to attend our events—sometimes we’ve been someone’s first camping trip, and we have loaner gear if you’re not sure what to bring.”

To find out about ongoing projects and volunteer opportunities, visit wrv.org