Colorado Friendship

WE ARE COMMITTED TO SAVING LIVES AND REDUCING SUFFERING THROUGHOUT COLORADO BY PROVIDING FOOD AND CLOTHING TO THOSE IN NEED.

MEALS ON THE STREET- EVERY SUNDAY, COF BRINGS A MOBILE TRAILER TO BOULDER WHERE WE SERVE A HOT MEAL AND DISTRIBUTE CLOTHING TO THE HOMELESS. WE HAVE BEEN SERVING THROUGH THIS PROGRAM SINCE 1998. FOR 2023 WE SERVED 2,347 MEALS ON THE STREET AND ON AVERAGE WE SAW 44 HOMELESS EACH WEEK. WE HAD 118 SERVERS, 11 DRIVERS, 9 COOKS 3 DISHWASHERS, 5 HOT DRINK MAKERS AND 6 TRAILER LOADERS FOR A TOTAL OF 152 VOLUTEERS. WE GAVE OUT 516 COATS, 2,142 PAIRS OF SOCKS, 494 PAIRS OF UNDERWEAR, 394 PAIRS OF LONG UNDERWEAR, 476 SLEEPING BAGS, 830 PAIRS OF PANTS, 1,360 SHIRTS, AND 317 PAIRS OF GLOVES.

INCREDIBLES.THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES BAGS OF NON-PERISHABLE FOOD TO LOW-INCOME SCHOOL CHILDREN EVERY FRIDAY. THESE CHILDREN RECEIVE FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH WHILE AT SCHOOL BUT MIGHT HAVE LITTLE OR NO FOOD AT HOME OVER THE WEEKEND. THIS FOOD HELPS TO FILL THAT GAP SO THE CHILDREN CAN RETURN TO SCHOOL ON MONDAY MORNING READY TO LEARN. WE DISTRIBUTED 21,120 BAGS OF FOOD IN 2023. WE SERVE 640 CHILDREN PER WEEK, AT 12 SCHOOLS EACH WEEK OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. WE CONTINUE TO INCLUDE HIGH NUTRITION ITEMS IN OUR BAGS SUCH AS TUNA FISH, BEEF JERKY, PEANUTS, CANNED FRUITS, VEGETABLES, MILK BOXES AND PEANUT BUTTER. THE SCHOOLS HAVE REQUESTED THAT ALL ITEMS BE NON-PERISHABLE, SINGLE SERVING AND EASY TO OPEN AND PREPARE SO KIDS CAN DO IT THEMSELVES. WE ARE CONSTANTLY WORKING TO FIND PRODUCTS THAT FIT THESE DESCRIPTIONS WHILE PROVIDING GOOD NUTRITION AT A REASONABLE PRICE. WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO BE PARTNERING WITH "BEEF STICKS FOR BACKPACKS" WHO ARE PROVIDING US WITH 2,500 DONATED HIGH QUALITY BEEF STICKS EVERY MONTH FOR OUR FOOD BAGS. THESE ARE THE SCHOOLS WE ARE CURRENTLY SERVING IN SVVSD: INDIAN PEAKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - 100 BAGS,TIMBERLINE K-8 - 50 BAGS, ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - 70 BAGS, MOUNTAIN VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - 70 BAGS, BURLINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - 60 BAGS, COLUMBINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - 70 BAGS, NORTHRIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - 60 BAGS, FALL RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - 41 BAGS, ALPINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - 50 BAGS, MEAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - 17 BAGS, SANDBORN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - 22 BAGS, AND MAIN STREET - 30 BAGS.

HOLIDAY GIFT PROGRAM - DONATIONS WERE COLLECTED FROM VARIOUS SPONSORS AND PARTNERS TO PROVIDE 587 CHILDREN AT THE SCHOOLS WE SERVE WITH GIFTS OF COATS, BOOTS OR WARM CLOTHING FOR THE HOLIDAYS. WE WORK WITH THE STAFF AT THE SCHOOLS SO THAT EACH CHILD CAN CHOOSE THE ITEM/SIZE THAT THEY NEED. WE DELIVER THE GIFTS DIRECTLY TO THE SCHOOL FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE CHILDREN.