The Niwot United Methodist Church has a robust outreach program that ranges from helping Sudanese refugee women adjust to life in the U.S. to supporting victims of natural disasters worldwide to providing nets that prevent the spread of malaria in Africa.  The church also makes a big impact in our own backyard.  Mary Byrne, Outreach Co-Chair for the Niwot UMC, has been coordinating the church’s outreach to the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless since 2006.  Once a month, between October and April, members of the church, including the youth group, volunteer to serve one dinner each month.  Mary and Outreach Co-Chair Kris Green have a permanent table set up where members can bring in items they wish to donate to the Center.

Gina M. Barajas, Volunteer Manager at the Shelter, is grateful for all the help they have received from the Niwot UMC and others.  Their task is daunting.  For example, between October 1, 2008 and April 30, 2009, the Shelter served 65,395 meals, requiring the services of 1,146 volunteers, who donated a total of 10,208 hours.

In addition to the time that volunteers donate, the Shelter also depends on donations of critical items.  Right now, they need blankets, disposable razors, shampoo, jelly, sugar and oatmeal.   

The Boulder Shelter for the Homeless is not run by the City or County of Boulder but is a private nonprofit corporation.  The Shelter has always been for and of the local community, and still relies on the support of women and men who refuse to stand idly by while others suffer through bitterly cold nights for lack of housing.  Its mission is to provide safe shelter, food, support services, and an avenue to self-sufficiency for homeless adults in our community.  The people who work at the Shelter believe that all people deserve the basic necessities of life, and the community in which we live is called to serve this purpose. 

The Boulder Shelter for the Homeless began as a grass-roots effort when a handful of concerned people started working to make sure men and women in our community were not left without shelter.  Now, 25 years later, the Shelter relies on the kindness and generosity of thousands of supporters to make its services successful.

Just to give you an idea of the kind of impact your donation makes:

• $315 purchases 350 hot meals (a week's worth of food for 25 men and women).
• $128 pays for four nights of shelter and services for a working homeless person.
• $60 provides a hot dinner for everyone in the Transition Program for two nights.
• $25 funds a night of safe shelter and all services for a resident.

And here are some statistics that reflect how the shelter supports our community:

• The Shelter provides approximately 35,000 bed nights and serves about 75,000 hot meals to 1,000 different men and women each year.
• 600 men and women have graduated from the Transition program into independent housing. Many continue to meet with their case manager to stay connected to vital services in the community.
• Nearly 40% of Shelter residents work full- or part-time and 20% are seeking employment.
• The Shelter’s staff of 35 is supplemented by more than 900 community volunteers, who donate a combined 10,000 hours of time each year.
• The Shelter is a private, non-profit agency that receives 81% of its annual operating budget from community members and community-based groups and 19% from government sources.

Volunteering at the Boulder Homeless Shelter provides opportunities for personal growth.  As Mary says, “Sometimes it's hard to tell exactly who is 'helping' whom.  The gratitude and warmth of the residents touch my heart each time I volunteer.  Many first-time volunteers immediately ask me ‘when can I sign up again?’  I personally look forward to each October when we resume our yearly commitment.”  Mary’s son, Ryan, has volunteered many times along with his parents and other member of the Niwot UMC youth group.  Ryan says that “I enjoy working at the Shelter because I like connecting with the people there; I like helping and making a difference.”

Because of the Niwot UMC congregation’s enthusiastic support of the church’s outreach to the Boulder Homeless Shelter, the church has recently increased its commitment to the Shelter. However, there is still a great need for additional volunteers so here are some ways you can make a difference:

 

• To make a monetary donation to the shelter, visit this website: http://www.bouldershelter.org/donate.money.html

 

• To donate items, visit this website: http://www.bouldershelter.org/donate.inkind.html for a list of needed items.  Feel free to drop off items at the Niwot UMC (7405 Lookout Road) or at the Shelter (4869 North Broadway) between 8 am and noon daily.

 

• To volunteer to serve a meal with the Niwot UMC (www.niwotumc.org), contact Mary Byrne at ptmarybyrne@comcast.net or volunteer Co-Coordinator Dixie Piland at dpiland@comcast.net.