Community Catch February 2023

Community Catch - February 2023

This month, and every month, we honor and celebrate the contributions of Black Americans who have shaped our nation, including those who fought and continue to fight for a just society for all.

As we reflect on the intersection of racial justice with food and housing security, we look to the work of civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer and her innovative Freedom Farm Cooperative (FFC). Started in 1969, the FFC established a plot of land in Mississippi to grow crops to feed families living in poverty. Under Hamer’s leadership, the cooperative acquired 640 acres of land, grew enough food to support over 1,600 families, and provided housing for more than 70 families. The FFC helped envision ways that economic justice can be achieved within communities when neighbors come together to help one another.

As Keisha N. Blain eloquently states in her article about Hamer’s work written for TIME, “Fannie Lou Hamer’s passion and ingenuity—and most of all, her emphasis on empowering those in need—serve as a model for today as activists continue to demand economic justice.”

Trends and Reflections at FISH

Our board and staff recently gathered for our annual retreat to begin the strategic planning process. Together, we discussed successes and challenges from the past year, explored the trends that have impacted our work over the past 5 years, and outlined our priorities for the upcoming year.

One common theme was the continued rise in NEED among our residents. The increase in the cost of living, housing, and inflation have made it more and more challenging for families to survive. The economic trends disproportionately impact low-income residents since a significant share of their income goes toward basic essentials. In addition, pandemic assistance programs are ending or decreasing, meaning that many families are losing support systems for food and housing. As we work on our strategic plan, we are looking ahead to how we can meet the need and continue to best serve families on their path to self-sufficiency.

We are excited about the upcoming publication of our 2022 annual report, which will share more information about FISH's programs and how we partner with our Broomfield community to serve our neighbors in need. Stay tuned!

Click here for the trends we have seen at FISH over the past 5 years

Become a FISH Fan During March Madness!

Help us reach our goal of 60 new monthly donors in honor of FISH's 60th anniversary this year! With giving options starting at just $5 a month, monthly giving is a convenient, budget-friendly way to provide consistent funds to assist families with food support, emergency financial assistance, and one-on-one mentoring!

We have some friends who will be lending their basketball skills to help bring attention to our mission and the impact of monthly giving during our March Madness tournament. Through the end of March, you can show your support for any of our competitors by visiting their fundraising page and setting up a monthly gift.

Cheer on your champion AND support our neighbors in need by setting up a monthly gift HERE!

Collaboration Is Critical to Supporting Youth and Families!

Broomfield FISH is a member of the county's Collaborative Management Program (CMP), designed to improve outcomes for children, youth, and families. New this year, the full-time CMP Coordinator position will be housed at FISH in close partnership with the CMP Executive Team, which includes representatives from the City and County Department of Human Services, as well as other nonprofits. FISH expects to fill this new position by April.

As a bit of background, in 2004, the Colorado General Assembly passed House Bill 04-1451 to establish collaborative management programs at the county level across the state. The Broomfield CMP values family voice and adheres to best practices that promote family engagement and data-informed processes. The CMP supports youth and their families who are experiencing significant, adverse life events through facilitated, collaborative problem-solving and community-based, wrap-around care and programming. The CMP program is intended to assist in identifying gaps in services within the community and– through a collaborative process with stakeholders– create solutions to address those gaps. Look for more news of the CMP's work this spring.

Volunteer Spotlight:

Kim Elliott

This month, we are highlighting a member of our awesome Friday afternoon crew, Kim Elliott! Kim started volunteering with FISH in 2020, early in the pandemic. She shares, "It did me a world of good to connect with other people and do something positive during that very strange time!" She started out by helping us build boxes during our drive-thru distribution days, and she now helps participants check out when they are done shopping in our marketplace. She loves getting to interact with our participants. As she says, "There are lots of smiles, cute kids, and healthy food finding its way to families. I love being a part of a community that makes this possible." When she is not at FISH, she likes to play with her three terrific grandsons, walk with friends, and read. She loves to dance and sing, too, as long as there aren't witnesses. Thank you, Kim, for the warmth and kindness you bring to our marketplace every week!

Food Is Love

Did you know that in an average month, FISH gives out nearly 120,000 pounds of food to neighbors in need? During the months of February and March, FISH is encouraging everyone to show some love by:

hosting a food drive
setting up an online fundraiser, or
donating to someone else's food drive or fundraiser!

Visit our website to learn more!

Up and Coming

Help keep our community healthy, safe, and strong by getting vaccinated! To learn about COVID and other flu vaccine opportunities in Broomfield, please click here.
Learn more and provide feedback on Universal Collection! Broomfield staff is collecting resident feedback on the topic of Universal Trash Collection and will share the feedback with Broomfield City Council in Spring 2023. This includes gauging resident interest and support or opposition to the project. Share your thoughts here!
Broomfield High School’s Women’s Leadership Program is hosting a conference to empower young women in the community on Friday, March 17th at the Broomfield United Methodist Church. All proceeds from the conference go to Hope House Colorado, an incredible local non-profit organization that is “committed to transforming the lives of teen mothers” in our community and beyond. This year's conference will include impactful female speakers, powerful voices, and lasting memories. Click here to register or spread the word.
As part of their event, "I AM...", celebrating and recognizing successful women in business, the Broomfield Chamber of Commerce and its Business Ladies Inspiring Success (BLIS) Leads Group will be honoring the 60th anniversary of Broomfield FISH and its founding by women from six Broomfield churches in 1963! Help celebrate on Thursday, March 30th from 11 am - 2 pm by bringing non-perishables and toiletries to the event to donate to FISH. For more information and registration, click here.
Backstory Theatre's 2023 Summer registration is here! For more information and to sign up for courses, click here. They will also be hosting a FREE night of kids' theatre at the Broomfield Auditorium on April 13th from 6:30 - 8 pm. It is their spring showcase recital with many brief play performances by students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. Tickets are not required at this time, but they will ask for your county of residence at the door. First come, first served for seating. Doors open at 6:15 pm.
FRIENDS of Broomfield, an organization dedicated to enhancing communities by creating opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), is seeking Direct Support Professionals to join their Day Program team! Find more information here.
If you are a parent looking for extra resources, you can find more offerings from Broomfield Early Childhood Council here.
SAVE THE DATE! Broomfield FISH's 2023 Embracing Hope Luncheon will be held on Thursday, October 26th, 2023 at the Lionsgate Event Center. More details to follow...