We want to give a heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive this year. Together, we collected more than 38,000 pounds of food for neighbors in need! This drive would not have been possible without our 90+ amazing volunteers who sorted and crated food, the incredible postal carriers who picked up the food along their routes, and those in the community who generously donated non-perishables.

We also want to give a shoutout to Infinitus Pie for allowing us to use their truck as part of the event and to our Stamp Out Hunger bag sponsors Viega LLC, Rotary Club of Broomfield Crossing, and Broomfield Rotary.

Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

During Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we honor leaders who have advocated for and continue to work towards justice for all, like labor organizer and civil rights activist Larry Itliong. Known for his crucial role in the Delano Farmworkers Grape Strike, for which he recruited César Chávez, Itliong passionately fought for workers' rights in the agricultural industry throughout his life. He also formed the Paulo Agbayani Retirement Village which provided housing for retired Filipino farmworkers in Delano. His leadership and legacy continues, and he is honored every year in California on Larry Itliong Day, which falls on October 25th.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental Health Awareness Month brings attention to the importance of mental health and fights the stigma surrounding it. Mental health, which includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being, is just as essential as physical health and is critical to overall wellness. There are several options for support in our community to help you care for your mental and emotional well-being. You are not in this alone!

If you need emergency services: For someone with an immediate life-threatening emergency, dial 9-1-1 for assistance.

Call Colorado Crisis Services at 1.844.493.TALK (8255) | Text TALK to 38255. Get connected to a crisis counselor or trained professional 24/7 who will assess risk and determine if a mobile response is necessary. There is no wrong reason to call – from suicidal thoughts to anxiety, loneliness, or substance use, someone will be there to talk you through it.

Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 9-8-8. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline connects you with a crisis center in the Lifeline network closest to your location. Your call will be answered by a trained crisis worker who will listen empathetically and without judgment. The crisis worker will work to ensure that you feel safe and help identify options and information about mental health services in your area. Your call is confidential and free.

Join Us in Celebrating the Grand Opening of Our NEW Teaching Garden

We are hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony in partnership with the Broomfield Area Chamber on Thursday, June 6th from 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm on the south side of our building (6 Garden Center). Come learn more about local food production and enjoy yummy treats from Cultivate Kitchen! 

Our new teaching garden is a part of our work to bring fresh, healthy food to neighbors in need, promote equitable food access, and foster community engagement in our mission. Produce harvested from the garden will go to our cost-free marketplace so our participants can take it home to create nutritious meals.

We would like to extend a special thank you to our garden committee members--Butter Wilde, Eleanor Edwards, Jim Walcutt, Bill Smith, Donna Erlewine, Peggy Jarrett, April Stuck, and Lost Rock Farm-- as well as Cultivate Kitchen for providing refreshments and the Broomfield Area Chamber for co-hosting this event.

For more information about the grand opening, or if you are interested in becoming a garden volunteer, please contact Broomfield FISH at info@broomfieldfish.org.

Hip Hip Hooray for the Phenomenal Pelicans!

We are so proud of the Pelicans soccer team who turned their $100 fundraiser into $3,000 for FISH! By rallying the support of the community, and with a matching donation from Milo the Dog, they not only reached their goal but exceed it thirtyfold. Now that's great team work!

Thank you Pelicans, Coach Max, Milo the Dog, and everyone who supported this fundraiser. You are making a huge impact in our work to feed families and fuel hope!

Summertime Means the Start of Farmers' Market Season

Pick up fresh produce, support local farmers and small businesses, and enjoy summer evenings with your neighbors at the Broomfield Farmers' Market at Holy Comforter! Did you know that unsold produce is donated to FISH at the end of each market day? Or that SNAP benefits are doubled at the market and residents enrolled in WIC can receive free $10 vouchers to purchase produce? We love our farmers' market partners, and you can show them some love, too, by stopping by on Tuesday evenings from 4 pm - 7 pm from June 11th through the end of September.

Thank you, John's Table!

We are sharing our gratitude for the John's Table team for hosting a dine out night for FISH earlier this month. They gave 20% of their sales that evening to FISH, which added up to a $360 donation! As a family-owned restaurant, John's Table is greatly supportive of the community and we appreciate their gift to help feed families and fuel hope. We encourage you to stop by and support this local business (and trust us, you will eat well)!

Volunteer Spotlight:

Chris Bairrington

This month's spotlight, Chris, is a part of our Tuesday morning crew and helps with food pickups in our truck as a ride-along on Mondays! Chris has been volunteering with FISH for a year, and in that time he has loved meeting and getting to know all of the staff and volunteers. He shares, "We have such a great group of people that have such great hearts." Being the multi-talented person he is, he enjoys golfing and woodworking when he is not busy moving food around our warehouse, stocking shelves, and helping participants. Thank you, Chris!

Staff Spotlight:

Sharin Oliver

Operations Manager

Sharin Oliver started volunteering at FISH with her son in 2009. She joined the staff in 2015 as the Volunteer Coordinator and moved into her current role as Operations Manager in 2021. What she enjoys most about FISH is connecting with our amazing Broomfield community and the great team of staff and volunteers who work at FISH. Sharin loves to spend time outdoors and you will often see her walking the paths of Broomfield. She also enjoys reading historical fiction.

Broomfield FISH is a proud member of the Colorado Family Resource Center Association.

www.broomfieldfish.org | info@broomfieldfish.org | 303-465-1600