12/07/2021
This is the Rotary Club of Summit County’s second year leading Adopt an Angel. Our first year was in the pre-vaccination pandemic. After managing that, we think we’re ready for anything, so we expanded the program as widely as we were able. We expect to serve over 600 families this year.
Last December, parents were instructed to stay in their cars and/or wait outside if they’d arrived by bus. This year we’ll be letting them in to select the toys that best fits their children and choose from a selection of winter coats. The day of the giveaway is strategically scheduled while kids are in school. This not only keeps foot traffic down but lets parents put their names on the gifts so they’re coming from Mom and Dad (or other caregivers) and not from the Rotary Club.
Leading this program has given us a new perspective on the struggles our low-income population is facing. In 2020, many were out of work and money was tight. People were sick, but homelessness was not a huge factor because there was a federal moratorium on evictions. That moratorium has since been lifted. Property values are at an all-time high, and renters are having their homes sold out from under them. The agencies we count on for referrals are stretched so thin that we had to give them extra time to fill out the paperwork needed to process their clients. It’s comforting to know that our club is one of many doing their best to help a lot of people who really need the help.
The event will be held in the Silverthorne Pavilion. It’s a majestic place to be sorting toys, and we’re very appreciative of the Town of Silverthorne. Other partners include the Breckenridge Rotary Club, Interact—which is the high schools’ young Rotary club, Alpine and First Banks, iFurnish, Lord of the Mountain Church, Walmart, Red, White, and Blue Fire Department, Stork and Bear Toys, Peak A Boo Toys, Joy of Sox, Safeway, City Markets, Breck and Silverthorne Recreation Centers. Peak School’s running its own toy-drive for us, as are Caldwell Bankers, Breckenridge Grand Vacations, and High Country Healing. Mountain Dreamers and FIRC are stepping up with Spanish-speaking volunteers, as is Summit County’s Youth and Family Services Department. The Bicycle Effect is coming to help. Many businesses let us hang posters. Some reach out asking how to do more. Even talking about Adopt an Angel is helpful, as is the article you’re reading. In addition to Summit Daily News, Always Mountain Time and Krystal are amazing media partners. Even reposting our social media is helpful! It takes two seconds and boosts our viewership through algorithms.
Red Buffalo Coffee hosts a drop-off location and also donates coffee to the volunteers. Sauce on the Blue and Enza’s offer discounts, which is greatly appreciated by the team leaders who’re spending long days in the Pavilion. Not one cup of coffee is purchased with the community’s donations. The Rotary Club of Summit County has no paid staff. All time is volunteered, so all funds go directly to the families. We’d hate to overlook a partner, but we probably did, and they probably forgive us. It’s amazing how the people who are helping us are, in turn, so grateful to us.
Though giving toys is more fun, parents sure appreciate the winter coats, and funds let us buy them in bulk and with tax exempt status. Though no number is too high, we’re thankful for monetary donations of all sizes. If you can give us $20, we can turn it into a warm winter coat and get it to a family in need. It’s very efficient. Cash also lets us shop to fill in the donation gaps, like teenagers who are harder to shop for. This year, we got a great deal on discount movie tickets owing to the generosity of Mitchell Theaters. Taking a friend to the movies is good clean fun, so that’s a real feel-good partnership.
Fundraising hasn’t been nearly as strong as last year, but we were expecting that. All we’ve purchased so far is coats and movie tickets because we won’t know how much money we can spend until Colorado Gives Day, which is this coming Tuesday, December 7th. That gives us a week between getting the funds and giving the gifts away. It’s an exciting week with all hands on deck!
We’re one of 35,000 worldwide Rotary Clubs. Our district has 300 clubs all over Colorado, and we were honored to win every district award we submitted for. It means that the rest of the state’s do-gooders think we’re doing especially good, and that’s very flattering. Gloria Quintero even won the Rotary award for essentially best non-Rotarian Rotary help. We’re blessed to be in a position to help so many people. It takes a village, and we’ve got a great village.
Donations are being accepted through this Friday, December 10th. Gift ideas and other details on the program are online at www.SummitAngels.com.
