Venezuelan Families in Denver

Over 36,000 migrants have arrived in Denver - many within the past few months. Local resources were not prepared, and already-stretched-thin resources were quickly exhausted. The city is renting out hotels to provide temporary shelters - but these newcomers need food, clothing, medicine, and more.

Locals are stepping up in big ways to coordinate grassroots efforts to fill the gaps of governmental assistance. Where agencies and non-profits have to navigate policy and red-tape, local families and friends are providing support directly where it's needed.

I am just one of many helping to feed, clothe, and support these newcomers. We have built a community based out of Boulder that has two main objectives:

1) Mass Donation Distributions to the Tower Road Hotels

2) Volunteer Work Days for migrants at Para Ti Mujer

First, the Donation Distribution events - we collect in-kind donations of clothing, toys, suitcases, hygiene items and more from local donors, and rely on GoFundMe/Venmo donations to purchase medication. We then host "Organizing Parties" to prepare the donations for the events. Our most recent event, we had over thirty volunteers and we served over 600 newcomers. Every migrant we served received medication, cleaning/hygiene supplies, and reusable bags, and had the opportunity to "shop" for clothing, jackets, winter gear, shelf-stable snacks, toys, and more.

Our next Distribution is on Saturday, February 17th (weather permitting).

Second, Volunteer Work Days are a collaboration with the Denver-based non-profit Para Ti Mujer. We coordinate rides, meals, and some payment for migrants to spend three hour shifts organizing clothing donations. They are then able to "shop" (for free) for clothing for themselves and their families before we drive them back to their respective shelters. This is an incredible way to support a local non-profit (who in turn directly supports the newcomers) while simultaneously distributing clothing directly where it is needed most.

Volunteer Work Days require raising funds to pay the migrants $15/hr to work, and borrowing/soliciting vans to transport them. It's a lot of a logistics, but the reward is well worth it!

If you would like to learn more about where I started, check out the unofficial "base" of the grassroots efforts of local friends/families at this Facebook group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1571646143575384/

They offer information for both newcomers AND volunteers. They (and I) do not have non-profit status (yet) so we can not deliver receipts for tax purposes. (Hopefully GoFundMe is a way around that.)

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A bit of backstory - I'm sure you've heard in the news that Venezuela is facing a severe humanitarian emergency. The government is corrupt, the people are impoverished, and crime rates are some of the highest in the world. For many, there is no access to clean water, health care, or nutritious food. So, people are fleeing. You don't have to look hard on the internet to find a first hand account of someone walking hundreds or thousands of miles with small children looking to build a better life. Miraculously, some of those families made it to the Mexican border, and crossed into the US. They were then bussed in mass up to Denver (without understanding where they were going).

Regardless of how your political ideals align, or how you feel about immigrants, or how you'd like to blame local and national governments... these families need help. Immediately. They need food and water and clothing and shelter.

If you can donate $5 or $500, I will focus on the two above objectives and pour all of my time and effort into this cause. I will rally volunteers, coordinate logistics, and recruit local non-profits, churches, and businesses to join us.

I understand that donating to a blanket non-profit can leave you wondering how effective your funds really were... but this can give you tangible, immediate results. Every single dollar raised, and as many of my own as I can spare, is going to feeding these kids, getting them boots and jackets, and helping get them out of snow-covered tents and into stable housing.

The first time that I tried to bring donations to one of the shelters, my car was swarmed by cold, hungry children and their families. Initially I was a bit scared, but upon realizing there was no danger - it was massively heartbreaking. I cried all the way home and vowed that I will exhaust all of my resources to help these people. It has become a (second) full-time job and I am dedicated to making these efforts sustainable, scalable, and repeatable. I welcome helping hands as readily as I do donations - please don't hesitate to reach out with how you'd like to contribute.

Truly,

Rebecca Elliot | Boulder, CO