How to help, and where to find help
How to help
Below is a sampling of Longmont-area charitable organizations, with information on how to donate to them:
• The OUR Center in Longmont can be reached at 303-772-5529 and is accepting food, clothing and financial donations. Donations are accepted at 220 Collyer St., Longmont, at the south side “donation” door.
The following donations to the Community Market are accepted 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekends: Hot and cold cereal; dried or canned beans; canned soups and stews; canned fruits; canned vegetables; healthy snacks; pasta; tomato products; canned meats and peanut butter; infant formula and baby diapers (sizes 4-6); and dish soap, laundry detergent and cleaning products.
The following donations to the Community Closet are accepted 9 a.m. to noon, Mondays and Wednesdays only: Clean clothing in good shape; shoes, socks; new underwear; coats, jackets, hats, gloves; dishes, pots, pans; bedding, towels; small appliances, small kitchen items; silverware, utensils; purses, wallets; briefcases, small luggage (preferably with wheels); new sleeping bags; backpacks; eyeglasses, sunglasses; belts, jewelry and accessories.
Monetary gifts and grocery store gift cards are accepted 8-5 weekdays at the Donations door or our front/main entrance. Donations can also be made online at www.ourcenter.org/donate.
• HOPE for Longmont, which operates a nightly homeless shelter in the city, can be reached at 720494-4673 for information on donating. Donations can also be made online at bit.ly/2ui6gw3, and check donations can be made out to HOPE at 804 S. Lincoln St. Longmont, 80501.
• Carbon Valley Help Center, a food pantry in Firestone, serves residents in the Weld County portion of the St. Vrain Valley School District. This area includes the towns of Dacono, Firestone, Frederick, Mead and portions of Longmont and Erie. Assistance is offered with nonperishable food and toiletries as well as financial grants to assist with rent/ mortgage payments, utility payments and some auto repair. Donations of nonperishable food may be delivered to 150 Buchanan, Firestone, CO 80520 on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9 a.m.and 3 p.m. Cash/check donations are always welcome and may be delivered or mailed to CVHC, P.O. Box 508. Firestone, CO 80520. Volunteers are welcome to apply via the application on the website, carbonvalleyhelpcenter.org, but new volunteers will not be added until the COVID-19 threat has dissipated. Please contact the Office Manager, Robin Monthei, at 303-833-6626 or robinmonthei@carbonvalleyhelpcenter.org.
• The Neighbor to Neighbor COVID-19 Relief Fund has been set up by the Longmont Community Foundation to help nonprofits in Longmont and the St. Vrain Valley. To donate online visit bit.ly/2uqhzyd. To donate by mail, send a check to Longmont Community Foundation, Attn: Neighbor to Neighbor to 636 Coffman St. Suite 203 Longmont, 80501.
• Community Food Share, a food bank located in Louisville serving Boulder and Broomfield Counties, has set up the COVID19 Rapid Response Fund, which can be contributed to online at bit.ly/3dbafay. Small food donations that can fit in a few bags or boxes are accepted from 8 a.m.to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in the nonprofit’s office lobby at 650 S. Taylor Ave. Louisville, 80027. Larger donations are accepted at the back of the nonprofit’s building from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, pull into dock door 3 and ring the bell there. Only nonperishable foods are being accepted due to the coronavirus outbreak.
• Agape Safe Haven, a year-round homeless shelter in Longmont, can accept donations online at bit.ly/3bckxfp. The nonprofit also accepts checks mailed to the shelter’s address, 10656 Parkridge Ave. Longmont, 80504.
• Longmont Meals on Wheels, which provides food to the elderly and disabled in the city, is taking donations online at bit.ly/2xzpchs, over the phone at 303-772-0540 and by check through the mail to Longmont Meals on Wheels at 910 Longs Peak Ave. Longmont, 80501.
• Safe Shelter of St. Vrain Valley, a Longmont organization aiding domestic abuse survivors, is in need of hand sanitizer, liquid hand soap, dish detergent, face masks, cleaning supplies, canned fruit, frozen meat and individually wrapped or sized food items. Monetary donations, however, are the most helpful to the nonprofit. Prior to donating items to the organization, call 303-772-0432. To donate by mail, send a check made out to Safe Shelter of St. Vrain Valley to P.O. Box 231 Longmont, CO 805020231. For other ways to help or to donate online, visit bit.ly/3aa8m0d.
• The Inn Between of Longmont, a nonprofit providing affordable housing in the city, is seeking contributions for its Starfish Emergency Fund, which helps residents who are now unable to pay their rent, or who have increased expenses. Donate by phone at 303684-0810. To contribute by mail, send a check made out to The Inn Between to 515 Kimbark St., Suite 107, Longmont, CO 80501. For more information on ways to donate, visit bit.ly/341yavk.
• El Comité de Longmont, an organization serving the Latino community in the city which has been reaching out to immigrants in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, can receive donations online at bit.ly/39bqy94. The nonprofit can also take donations sent through the mail to 455 Kimbark St. Longmont, CO 80501.
• The Center for People with Disabilities, with locations in Boulder and Longmont, has been offering support to people with disabilities they serve through phone calls and video conferencing. To donate, visit bit.ly/3a1au0k. The nonprofit can also be reached at 303-442-8662.
• The Reentry Initiative supports men and women coming out of Colorado prisons through Longmont Parole. The Reentry Initiative’s Welcome Back Center in Longmont is linking with parolees, working remotely to provide case management and direct support for housing, transportation, employment, education, medical, mental health and other basic needs. With the accelerated release of people from Colorado prisons, the Reentry Initiative’s referrals are up by more than 500%, increasing weekly. To donate, people can send a check made payable to The Reentry Initiative at 402 Kimbark, Longmont, CO. 80501. People can also donate online at thereentryinitiative.org. For more information call 720-6409513.
• Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA) is a nonprofit in Boulder helping families and individuals financially impacted by COVID-19. Those interested in supporting EFAA’S emergency food and financial assistance efforts can visit efaa.org/give.
• Recovery Café Longmont is a community of refuge and healing for people in recovery from addiction, mental health, homelessness, and additional life challenges. It was formed in late 2018 to address the unmet need for adequate, accessible, long-term recovery services in Boulder County. To donate by phone, call 720-815-2885. To contribute by check, please address to Recovery Café Longmont, 402 Kimbark St., Longmont, CO 80501. To donate online, visit its website, recoverycafelongmont.org.
• NAMI Boulder County (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) provides support, education and advocacy for individuals and families impacted by mental illness. All programs are offered free of charge to all participants. Donations can be made online at www.namibouldercounty.org/donate or via checks mailed to 3470 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80304. This organization is fully funded by individual donations, and that support is critical to helping those in our community impacted by mental health conditions.
• Rise Against Suicide, which helps local youth at risk of suicide by removing the financial and social barriers to treatment, can be reached at 720-212-7527. The organization is accepting monetary donations online at riseagainst suicide.org/donate/ or via checks mailed to PO Box 846, Lafayette, CO 80026. Donations directly fund therapy for children at risk for suicide. This help is especially critical in these times of added stress and isolation.
Where to find help Emergency food
•Community Food Share, at 650 S. Taylor Avenue, Louisville phone: (303) 652-3663; online: communityfoodshare.org.
•Sister Carmen Community Center, at 655 Aspen Ridge Drive, Lafayette, phone: 303-665-4342; online sistercarmen.org
•OUR Center, at 220 Collyer St., Longmont, phone: 303-772-5529 and online at ourcenter.org. Food pantries
These are programs that acquire food products through donations, canned food drives, food bank programs or direct purchase and distribute the food to people who are in emergency situations, according to the BCAAA. Some pantries deliver food to people whose disabilities or illnesses make it difficult for them to leave home. To practice social distancing, some pantries are leaving food outside of the building, so people are advised to call ahead.
•Longmont Calvary, 2101 Gay St. Longmont; phone: 720-490-9899; online at https://longmontcalvary.org/breadbox/. Food pickup the first and third Thursday of each month, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Drive up to the west parking lot and get in line, groceries will be brought out to the car.
•Longmont St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 323 Collyer St., in Longmont; phone: 303-6781469; online at johnthebaptist.org/food-bank.
•Longmont Vinelife Church: Wellspring Food & Clothing Ministry, at 7845 Lookout Road in Longmont; phone: 303449-3330; online: vinelife.com.
•The Round Pantry at Westview Presbyterian Church, at 1500 Hover St. in Longmont; phone: 303776-3242; online at wvpres.org.
•Leaf: Community Food Pantry at Lyons Community Church, at 350 Main St. in Lyons; phone: 720864-4309; online at leaflyons.org.
Grocery delivery
•Community Food Share: Eldershare Program provides groceries, free of charge, to low-income seniors in Boulder and Broomfield Counties twice per month. Every senior receives fresh produce, cheese, and a variety of pantry items. For more information, call 303-6523663 or online at communityfoodshare.org.