November News from the WC Faith Partnership Council

FIGHT TO END HOMELESSNESS IN WELD COUNTY

As the cost of living all over Weld County and northern Colorado continues to rise, how do we address the needs of our neighbors?  The need is obvious and our calling to care for those who are struggling is clear, so where do we begin? When faith communities unite to fight homelessness in Weld County, we can change lives.

November is Homelessness Awareness Month.  Below are tools to join the fight.  Weld's Way Home challenges your congregation or small group or organization to pick one or more action items that best matches your mission.

• Host a viewing of the film American Winter.   This HBO documentary tells the real story of families confronted with homelessness.  To obtain a copy, contact Emily Roberson, emily@unitedway-weld.org.
• Provide one Cold-Weather-Shelter meal.  Food and volunteers are needed to serve our community's homeless families and individuals.  Contact:  Monica Gerber, mgerber@ccdenver.org
• Host a donation drive. Collect new socks, underwear, hygiene items and more for those living in shelters and out-of-doors.  Contact Nicole Quinn, Nicole@unitedway-weld.org.
• Encourage volunteerism at the Housing Navigation Center. Help the homeless locate housing, access vital services, receive mail and more.  Contact Nicole Quinn, Nicole@unitedway-weld.org
• Give an offering to the Housing Navigation Center.  Help us to sustain this resource for the housing unstable in Weld County.
• Donate to Weld's Way Home.   Your gifts fund shared efforts to address homelessness.
• Sponsor a bed in the Greeley/Evans-based Cold Weather Shelter.  An entire season of shelter costs $2,000 per bed. Contact Emily Roberson (Emily@unitedway-weld.org, 970-673-7430) with questions or for more information

HOUSING NAVIGATION CENTER INFORMATION

Did you know there is a place in our community for the homeless to get shelter and help with housing resources?  This facility will open November 1.

Location:
2930 11th Ave.  #1.  Evans, CO  80620

Hours of Operation: 
November-April 7:00 a.m. - noon.  Overnight shelter provided from 7:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.         
May-October   8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  No overnight shelter.

Contact: 
Brandy Chaparro, who is the coordinator. Brandy@unitedway-weld.org (970) 573-6430

Current Resources:  Lockers for short-term storage, accessible mailing address, computers for housing and employment search, showers and laundry.

COMMUNITY GRIEF CENTER

This center, located in the Caring Legacy Building at 2105 Clubhouse Dr. in Greeley, offers trained professionals and trained volunteer staff to come along side and support the bereaved in our community.  Their vision is to support children, teens and adults as they walk through their unique journey of grieving the death of a loved one and to offer them hope and healing.  They also provide education through seminars and online resources.

Support groups are FREE OF CHARGE.  These include:  Veterans Support Group, Suicide Support, Moms support group, Widows support group, Healing Stitches Support Group.  

Classes include Understanding Grief Class for adults and TREK, an 8-week program for elementary, middle school, high school and their care givers.

For more information on any of these programs, please contact Dr. Deborah Baker, Program Director (970-506-4114) or see their website http://www.communitygriefcenter.org.

Seeking Names & Addresses of Deployed Military for Holiday Packages

The Front Range Chapter of the National Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Auxiliary is asking the public to submit names and addresses of deployed Military personnel in preparation for their annual shipments of holiday packages.

Submittal deadline is November 16th and only the first 50 submissions will be considered because of limited funding.

They are also asking for monetary donations to offset the costs of supplies and shipping. Last year they sent 50 large priority mail boxes overseas at a cost of $750 for supplies and $800 for shipping. They would like to increase their volume this year but will need help to make this happen.

Supplies for their Troop Boxes will be accepted in the Fort Collins, Greeley, or Loveland area where their volunteers can pick up.

The Front Range Chapter 3-6 is a 501(c)(3) organization based in northern Colorado and has members throughout the area. Their mission is to raise funds for Military and Veteran charities.

For information call Carol Peters at 970-302-2426 or email carolpeters102@gmail.com or visit www.cvma3-6.org

Colorado Mission of Mercy to bring free dental services to Greeley Nov 2 and 3 

The Colorado Mission of Mercy (COMOM) is a large-scale dental clinic in which dental services are provided at no cost for individuals who cannot afford dental care. Learn more at http://www.COMOM.org 720.648.0919

When to come?

• Early! Can line-up night before clinic
• WARM inside shelter while waiting
• Doors open at 6:00 a.m.
• Doors open until clinic is at capacity
• Capacity is reached early in day
• No appointments
• First-come – first-served

What to bring? Wait can be very long, so…

• Books, magazines, puzzles, knitting to help pass the time
• Snacks and water

What to expect

• Approximately 800 patients will be seen each day at the dental clinic.
• Doors will be open at 6 am and will remain open until the clinic is at full capacity.
• Sometimes the clinic is at capacity early in the day.
• Dental treatment will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
• You will be waiting your turn to be treated and the wait may be very long.
• As dentists and dental hygienists become available, you will be taken to areas of the dental clinic for dental treatment.
• The dental services provided at COMOM include cleanings, fillings, root canal treatments, and extractions.
• Your treatment plan will be prioritized, and initially you’ll be provided with your first-priority treatment.
• During the dental clinic, you will be provided with instruction on how to care for your teeth.
• Upon completing your dental care, you will be asked to participate in an exit interview.
• If there is availability after your first prioritized treatment, you’ll have an opportunity to have another treatment.
• Flu shots are offered to patients and to family and friends who are with patients.

Dental treatment not provided

• COMOM is not able to provide patients with extractions of wisdom teeth, tooth implants, nor root canal treatment of molars.
• Patients on Coumadin- or Fosamax-type medications will not have extractions.
• At the dental clinic, blood pressure testing will be performed on all patients, and glucose testing will be performed on patients who have a history of diabetes.
• Patients, with blood pressure or glucose levels that are too high, cannot be treated at COMOM.

Children and infants

• Children and infants are welcomed at COMOM to receive dental care.
• If parent/guardian is to receive treatment, an adult must be present to be responsible for the children brought to the clinic.

WARM inside shelter while you wait!