Extraordinary Women, Extraordinary Work
https://issuu.com/timescall/docs/lmag_winter/6
A community is more than where we live. From where we shop to the people with whom we interact to what we do for recreation, our community contributes deeply to our sense of self and our overall quality of life. At 90,000 residents and growing, Longmont has managed to maintain its community atmosphere over time through its residents’ long-standing activist spirit. But what happens to people in our community who have no support network when a life-altering crisis occurs? What do we do in the face of unexpected divorce, diagnosis, or death? Where do people go when immediate needs become destabilizing forces overnight? While federal programs offer support for the most vulnerable in our community, these services can take time, a luxury that people in crisis often do not have. In the spirit of community activism that has long defined Longmont, three local women stand in the gap to offer tangible and timely solutions for Longmont residents in turmoil.
A Woman’s Work
Kate Gaddis, J.D., Longmont native and Executive Director of A Woman’s Work, has dedicated her life and career in service to this community. Gaddis, a founding donor to A Woman’s Work, has “had a love affair” with the organization from the beginning. She recollects, “In 2003, one Longmont woman found herself navigating her way through a rocky divorce with two children to provide for. She a partner at the Longmont Community Foundation looked for resources to help her though that difficult financial period.” Finding none, the two women set out to find 100 women to donate 100 dollars in 100 days to help other women in situations like her own. In just 13 short days, the money was raised, and A Woman’s Work was born. Gaddis loves that since its foundation, A Woman’s Work has stayed true to its simple, original mission: to provide a timely fund for women in need in the St. Vrain valley. With an average grant of $1000, this organization has helped over 250 women in the past year alone. Gaddis says that the simplicity of this mission and their ability to quickly meet the needs of women are her favorite parts about her job, and that’s what excited her about taking the reins of leadership in June of 2013. Her passion for her role as the executive director radiates in her words, “We have a lean staff here at A Woman’s Work, but we have a big number of amazing volunteers. I work with a 16-person Board of Directors who are beyond dedicated and who all bring different skill sets together for a really collaborative environment. I love that with everyone’s help, we as an organization have been able to maintain our integrity and stay simple, being good stewards of our donors’ money. Because we are privately funded, we are able to adapt to the changing needs of women in our community, and I love that it really does work, and it really does help.” One of Gaddis’s most valued experiences was being able to “create a bridge” to stability for a family that was referred to A Woman’s Work by the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center. This client’s husband, recently diagnosed with cancer, required unpaid time off for treatment. While the client worked three jobs, the loss of her husband’s income threatened the family’s ability to stay in their home. Because of the generosity of donors, the organization was able to pay the client’s mortgage and bills for two months so that the family could focus on the husband’s treatment and recovery. In the coming months, Gaddis hopes for continued growth in the organization’s finances and in the range of needs they are able to meet. Gaddis and her team rely on their professional partners to be their eyes and ears in the community, referring women in need to their services, and they are always seeking new partners in that effort. A Woman’s Work is delighted to host a Brew Tour of four local breweries on November 21st as their next fundraiser. For more information about the tour or to donate online, please visit http://www.awomanswork.org/.
Longmont Meals on Wheels
Karla Hale, also a Longmont native, grew up volunteering with her family in the St. Vrain Valley. “It’s just what we did,” says Hale, “I’ve loved serving the community since I was a kid.” After 10 year as a Volunteer Coordinator with Longmont Meals on Wheels, she stepped into what she calls “the perfect fit” for her career as the Executive Director of the organization four years ago. “I have a great job,” she says, “I get to work with great people and use my background in the catering industry in a way that makes our community a better place.” According to Hale, Longmont Meals on Wheels is “so much more than a meal,” offering wellness checks, emergency food bags, holiday gift baskets, and Project Homecoming - a service for people of all ages whose recent release from the hospital inhibits them from making a hot meal for themselves while they recover. According to Hale, “Longmont Meals on Wheels has a great relationship with hospitals, police, the fire department, the City of Longmont, and the Longmont Senior Center, where we prepare all of our meals for delivery. We have a wonderful team of employees and volunteers who deliver about 400 meals to Longmont residents every day.” Because Meals on Wheels doesn’t have a parent organization, each entity has the freedom to adapt to the needs of their community. “As the needs of the community change,” says Hale, “so do we.” For instance, during the recent flood Longmont Meals on Wheels was able to help the fire department and police identify Longmont’s most vulnerable citizens, and because of their ability to be flexible, not only were they able to help their own clients, but they were able to serve the entire community by preparing meals for anyone in need. Additionally, because families know that someone from Meals on Wheels will be coming to check on their loved ones every week day, many are able to avoid premature residential care for their aging family members. The organization really is, as Hale said, “so much more than a meal.” Hale cherishes the incredible volunteers and employees who serve with her, and she says there is always room for more. Meals on Wheels does not have state or federal funding, but instead operates on foundation and private-donor funding. Currently, Longmont Meals on Wheels’ greatest need is in their kitchen helping to prepare meals and for $5 grocery gift cards to put in their holiday gift baskets for their clients. Most volunteers serve on one day each week for about four hours, but volunteers can serve in a variety of ways that fit their schedule. For more information or to donate to the organization, visit http://www.longmontmeals.org.
Longmont iTHRIVE
Deb Roberts, Executive Director for Alternatives for Youth, has a personal investment in and passion for her service to the community of Longmont. Several years ago, Roberts’ teenage son began using drugs. “I know all the emotions parents go through,” she says, “The shame, the sadness, the sense of failure, the frustration of not being able to figure out why this is happening to your kid. It was a tough, tough time for us.” Roberts’ son eventually went through an inpatient treatment program, but relapsed and passed away in a tragic accident at the age of 19. “We want to do anything we can do to help kids not go through that, and we know how important it is to support the parents of kids who are struggling.” Roberts, who has spent her entire career in non-profit management, says that her job with Alternatives for Youth is the best job she’s ever had. Though Alternatives for Youth has served the St. Vrain Valley for 33 years, according to Roberts, “we’re always changing according to the greatest need in the community. In the past we’ve run after-school programs to help kids with homework; we’ve hosted summer programs for low-income families; we’ve even run a school for kids who’ve been expelled, but we’re always talking to teachers, police and probation officers, and members of the community about what the greatest need for youth in the community is, and we do our best to meet that need without duplicating services.” Most recently, the community of Longmont identified alcohol and drug abuse as the most pressing issue among teens. As Roberts and her team looked at the services that were already available, they identified quality services for both substance abuse prevention and treatment, but noticed that the community had no resources for early intervention. Thus Roberts and her team at Alternatives for Youth created iTHRIVE, a 6-week program with alumni support that offers support and therapy for struggling teens and their families. Additionally, the program offers teens many opportunities to learn new skills that excite them and encourage them to move toward their dreams and passions. “It’s almost impossible,” says Roberts, “to be effective by just telling kids to say no to an addiction. We want them to say yes to something else, something they’re super excited about doing. We spend a lot of time helping them realize that the addiction isn’t helping them work toward their dreams.” What Roberts loves most about the iTHRIVE program is seeing kids realize that they want to quit and seeing families becoming closer in that process. She encourages any parent of a teen who is struggling with drug or alcohol abuse, “Don’t be in denial, and don’t be embarrassed. If you’re worried about your teen, reach out and call us.” Roberts, her faithful co-worker, Marie Terry, and her passionate, dedicated team are always looking for volunteers for anything from office work to teaching youth a new skill. For more information or to donate, please visit http://www.ithrivegroups.org/.
