By Marc Cowell and Elizabeth Crowe
In Boulder County, families are facing rising costs of food and child care, housing instability and reduced access to health care — and our nonprofits are working overtime to keep up.
“Now more than ever, our nonprofit organizations need our support. As public resources are slashed, the burden of caring for our communities increasingly falls on us,” said El Centro AMISTAD’s Ana Karina Casas Ibarra. “We must stand with our nonprofits — because when they are supported, our most vulnerable get support, and our entire community stands stronger.”
With so many changes to federal and state program budgets and policies happening now, it’s hard to know what to do to help. So, we asked local nonprofits across Boulder County what they need most. The answer? Time. Energy. Financial Support. And your voice.
Here’s how you can make a difference now:
If you have 15 minutes:
Call your elected officials about protecting Medicaid, SNAP, housing assistance or child care services.
Drop off a bag of groceries at your local food pantry.
Make a one-time or recurring monthly donation to a local nonprofit.
If you have an hour:
Sort donations at a food bank.
Help a nonprofit with phone calls or office tasks.
If you have a few hours or a day:
Help table at a community advocacy event.
Coordinate a food drive or make deliveries, assist with nonprofit building repairs, teach a class or lead a training.
Host a small fundraiser with friends and neighbors.
As Kathie Jackson, a volunteer with Sister Carmen Community Center, put it: “When I volunteer my time with Sister Carmen, I feel connected and useful. It makes our community more compassionate. Anyone with a few spare hours could do the same for a cause you care about.”
Volunteering is one powerful way to step in. Nonprofit leaders remind us that speaking up for policies that protect families is just as important.
“Right now, our safety net health care system is feeling the squeeze,” said Clinica Family Health and Wellness CEO Simon Smith. “I urge our community to be informed about policies that affect low-income families and individuals — our friends, family and neighbors — and take a few moments to advocate for policies that can support this fragile piece of our community.”
You don’t have to fix everything to make a difference. The need is real, but so is our ability to respond. Pick one action, do it this week, and be part of the reason Boulder County becomes a place where every family has what they need. Visit your preferred nonprofit organization’s website to learn more about their needs or directly support their mission. You can also visit ColoradoGives.org to explore and support the many safety net providers serving your community.
Marc Cowell is the chair, and Elizabeth Crowe is the vice chair of the Family Resource Network. The Family Resource Network is made up of local nonprofits, schools, and government agencies working together to support Boulder County families with basic needs like food, housing, health care, and child care. Learn more at boco.org/FRN.