August 2026 Newsletter | Vol. 8 | | |
THE BELLOS – August Edition!
Welcome to the August edition of THE BELLOS, your trusted e-newsletter connecting Montbello neighbors, businesses, and organizations. In this edition, we celebrate the community’s support of students and share tips to prepare for the start of the school year. We also provide important information to help avoid scams, provide resources to make sure you’re using water wisely during the drought and share important learnings from Children’s Farms in Action’s summer interns. Check out the Job of the Month and lots of fun and free events to add to your calendar. Know someone who would like to get THE BELLOS? Send them this link to sign up for the monthly e-newsletter.
As always, we welcome your story ideas and event submissions for future editions of THE BELLOS or the MUSE. Have something to share? Reply to this email.
| | Preparing Young Children for the Start of School | | |
Starting school can bring excitement—and uncertainty. Families can ease the transition by beginning a school-night routine now. Choose a consistent bedtime, turn off screens, take a bath, lay out clothes, pack the backpack, read a book, and turn off the lights in the same order each night. Gradually move bedtime and wake-up time earlier so the first school morning does not feel like a sudden change.
Help your child picture what their school day will look like. Walk or drive the route to school, visit the playground, read a book about starting school, or arrange a playdate with a new classmate. Practice opening lunch containers, putting on shoes, carrying a backpack, and saying goodbye.
On the first day, keep goodbyes warm, confident, and brief. The team at Monarch Montessori encourages families to give children small responsibilities that build independence. Predictable routines and calm encouragement help children enter school feeling secure, capable, and ready to learn.
| | Tip of the Month: Protecting Yourself Against Scams | | |
Scams are getting harder to spot, but a few simple habits—pausing, verifying requests, and protecting your accounts—can help keep your money and personal information safe. Be cautious of unexpected calls, texts, or emails asking you to act quickly, send money, click a link, or share personal information. Pause and verify the request using a phone number or website you already trust. Use strong, unique passwords for important accounts and turn on two-factor authentication whenever possible.
AARP’s Fraud Watch Network offers free resources to help people recognize and avoid scams, including fraud alerts, a scam-tracking map, and a helpline where you can speak with a fraud specialist. Senior Planet from AARP also offers free technology classes for adults 60 and older, including in-person classes at its Denver center in Lowry.
The best defense is staying informed. If something feels unusual, slow down, ask questions, and verify before taking action.
| | FreshLo Update: Providing FreshLo Students with Tools for a Successful Schoolyear | The Montbello Organizing Committee (MOC) wants to make sure all K-12 students living in the FreshLo Residences have the necessary resources to thrive academically throughout the school year. Working with Montbello 20/20 and Urban League Young Professionals, MOC collected and distributed 75 backpacks filled with essential school supplies to all interested students living in the building. | | | |
Job of the Month: Warehouse Associate – Loader/Unloader
Cintas Corporation
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Cintas Corporation provides one million+ businesses with products and services that help keep facilities and employees clean, safe, and looking their best. The warehouse in Montbello is hiring a second-shift loader/unloader to support the Rental Division. This position is responsible for driving company trucks to designated areas in the facility for unloading soiled products, and for loading clean uniforms, floor mats, and additional customer products onto trucks based on customer routes designated for each truck.
Job applicants must be 18 years or older and have a valid driver’s license. They must also be comfortable working in hot and cold environments, handling soiled materials with appropriate protective equipment, performing physical activity including standing, bending and lifting materials, and be able to work in a fast-paced, schedule driven environment. This is a full time, second shift (nights) position. The base salary ranges from $19.29 - $23.63/hour with additional benefits and the opportunity to advance. View the job posting for additional information and to apply.
Montbello Talent is dedicated to connecting local job seekers with living wage jobs where they can thrive. Whether you're seeking your first job, looking to shift careers, or aiming to climb higher in your current path, Montbello Talent offers personalized support and resources. Each month in THE BELLOS, we will highlight a job meant to help strengthen our community's economic fabric. If you are a job seeker, or employer, please reach out to Michael.Crossland@montbelloorganizing.org.
| | The Many Faces of MOC: Meet Chris Martinez | | |
Chris is a founding member and the president of the board for the Montbello Organizing Committee. He has been instrumental in growing the organization from a small grassroots group of volunteers into an organization with nearly 20 staff and dozens of partners. He has led and supported a variety of initiatives to improve life in Montbello, including the FreshLo Hub.
Chris worked for the Federal Reserve for 35 years before joining the City and County of Denver’s Office of Economic Development in 2010. He then served as executive director for the Hispanic Contractors of Colorado. A long time Montbello resident, Chris helped and establish and lead many neighborhood organizations including Far Northeast Neighbors, Montbello 20/20 and L.I.F.T. Giving Circle. He has also served on several Far Northeast School committees and served as an elected board member for the Regional Transportation District (RTD) for eight years.
When he’s not serving his community, Chris enjoys spending time with his family, which includes five grandchildren, bowling, and attending Denver Broncos games.
| | Every Drop Counts! Irrigation Solutions To Save Water & Foster Growth | | |
To keep heat-vulnerable communities prepared and resilient during drought, Denver nonprofit The Park People led Every Drop Counts: A Water-Wise Workshop Series. The free series taught residents how maximizing water use via rain barrels, downspout redirects, and other irrigation solutions can lower bills while watering native and adapted plants and trees, which in turn reduce air pollution, minimize flooding, cool homes, and help pollinators.
The series, which was made possible with support from the City of Denver's Office of Climate Action and Denver Water, served Montbello, Barnum, Barnum West, Globeville, Valverde, Villa Park, West Colfax, and Westwood. The Park People's Community Connectors, resident leaders who know the needs of their neighbors, provided personalized landscaping consultations to help residents identify irrigation solutions and plant species that would work best for their yards, and residents were given free solutions and educational materials to take home.
Over the course of the series:
- 57 new households attended
- 81 water-wise landscape consultations were conducted, in-person and via phone
- 225 solutions were distributed to residents (downspout redirects, rain barrels, and tree diapers)
“Serving my community in one of Denver's most vulnerable neighborhoods is a privilege and a personal commitment. Providing this education is vital, as these landscapes will outlast us,” says Erika Orozco, Montbello Community Connector. “Saving rain today means surviving drought tomorrow.”
The Park People has additional information on irrigation solutions on their website.
| | CFA Interns Turn Fresh Food Into Fresh Ideas | | |
The summer interns that are employed by Children’s Farm in Action (CFA) put in lots of hard work – prepping the gardens, sowing seeds, weeding, harvesting and caring for plants. Along the way, they learn a lot about plants and nutrition.
In early August, CFA’s three summer interns had the opportunity to visit We Don’t Waste, a nonprofit that increases food access and protects the planet by rescuing and repurposing food, while educating and advocating to increase food security and decrease food waste. Intern Victoria S. shared her thoughts. “For me, the best part was the hands-on cooking lesson with Slow Food Denver. We made a delicious pasta salad with various veggies and even mixed in fresh kale and radishes from our garden. This experience taught me that a recipe like this is a powerful way to reduce food waste. No need for a strict plan and you can just add whatever you already have sitting in your fridge. Learning how to use just about anything and turn it into something great really stuck with me from this experience and is a lesson that I will definitely carry forward.”
| | Event Recap: 1,800 Students Received Free School Supplies | | Montbello 2020 & Beyond’s 10th Annual Health, Wellness, Back to School/Backpack Giveaway on August 8th was a big success. 1,800 backpacks loaded with essential school supplies were distributed to ensure that students have the tools they need to get the year off to a good start. In addition, 500 pairs of socks were given away and 150 individuals received free health screenings including dental exams. Participants also enjoyed food, entertainment and fun activities. | | Featured Event: 11th Annual Montbello Alive! | | |
Saturday, September 19, 2026
5K Run or Walk: 10 am
Community celebration: Noon to 4 pm
East Meadow, Parkfield Lake Park: 15555 E. 53rd Ave., Denver, CO 80239
| Celebrate the vibrancy, diversity and unique cultural dynamics of Montbello through food, entertainment, and family-friendly activities at the 11th annual Montbello Alive!. The event kicks off with the Montbello Alive! 5K at 10 am and continues throughout the afternoon with live entertainment, fun family activities, a resource fair and free food from a variety of local vendors representing the diverse culinary landscape of Montbello. | | Community Connections: Events, Classes & Happenings* | |
Montbello Mobile Food Pantry
Thursday, August 20th at 9 am
Montbello Recreation Center: 15555 E. 53rd Ave., Denver, CO 80239
The Mobile Food Pantry distributes food boxes out of the parking lot at Montbello Recreation Center. New clients can streamline their visit by registering ahead of time here.
DEN Concert on the Fly: Eric Roberson and the Wash Park Fund Band
Sunday, August 23rd, Doors open at 1:30; music starts at 2:30
Park on the Plaza at DEN – steps away from the RTD A Line station.
Enjoy free live music at a concert featuring the Wash Park Fund Band and R&B/Soul legend, Eric Roberson. Lawn seating so be sure to bring a low chair or blanket. Food and drink will be available for purchase. Concerts are free but tickets must be reserved at www.flydenver.com/concerts
Denver Police Department’s Annual Safety Expo
Saturday, September 5th, 11 am-2 pm
Avenues at Northfield-Main Street: 8340 E. Northfield Blvd., Denver, CO 80238
Meet Denver Police officers, explore emergency vehicles, enjoy interactive demonstrations, and bring the whole family for a fun and educational day.
*Unless otherwise noted, events are free. Visit montbellocalendar.org to register and to see additional events happening in the community.
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