‘Tis the season! While important to do year-round, the holiday season is a time when we all tend to look for more ways to get involved in our communities and give back to others. So, look no further—we have 12 ways you can get involved and make a difference in Denver during this season and any month of the year!
BONUS: #13: Only Available Through December 10!
Donate for Colorado Gives Day
Colorado Gives Day is a special day when Coloradans come together to support local nonprofits like Fort Collins Rescue Mission, creating positive change in our community. There’s also a $1 Million Incentive Fund that will multiply the impact of every gift.
Gifts made through the Colorado Gives Foundation from November 1 to midnight on December 10 count toward this year’s event.
1. Support Neighbors in Their New Home
The Mission helped 574 households leave homelessness last year, and we are on track to help even more in 2025. That’s more than 1,000 people (both individuals and families) who are now in more stable living situations.
Setting up a new home—a new life—is an additional expense and burden, and by providing a Housewarming Box filled with essential household items, you can help empower people to thrive in their stability.
Either purchase and fill a 20- to 30-gallon plastic storage tote with items from our suggested Shopping List or give online to help us provide essential supplies and larger furniture and household items.
2. Give Toys for Kids in Need
We served DOUBLE the number of children at the Mission last year, as first-time family homelessness has grown by 34%. We are blessed to serve this growing number of families through our Bridge program at The Crossing, which gives families and individuals experiencing homelessness a safe place to live while they transition out of their circumstances.
Yet in the past year, The Crossing has also become a safe haven for families in more urgent or crisis situations, through our Emergency Family Shelter.
Inside The Crossing’s Youth Center, you’ll find the E.P.I.C. Store, which stands for Embolden, Practice and Implement Character. Your donations of toys, games and more will help stock our store and teach kids valuable life skills.
3. Warm Hands and Hearts
The Mission shelters hundreds of people every night of the year and we are truly lifesaving during the winter months. Colder temperatures always put our neighbors experiencing homelessness and those on the brink of homelessness at risk.
You can help provide cold-weather items for those men, women and children year-round by giving items to our Ministry Outreach Center. There, we offer a food pantry and clothing to those in need at no cost, which helps them focus their income on critical bills while receiving needed food and clothing, so they can stay housed longer.
“I would be outside until 7 a.m., shivering with one hoodie on. It was the one warm thing I really had.”
Tommy, Shelter Guest
4. Be a Part of Pathways of Hope
When you automate your monthly giving, you become a part of our Pathways of Hope monthly giving program. As part of this special group of monthly donors, you’ll receive regular updates, including stories of the lives you change, progress on our programs and services and ways your support helps our community.
5. Make a Difference with a Fundraiser
Start a fundraiser today to partner with your friends and family to raise funds to support the transformational programs and services at the Mission. Run to change lives, celebrate a milestone, give your birthday, and more—your fundraiser will make an impact!
6. Follow Along & Celebrate the Successes
104 New Life Program participants graduated last year, one of the many steps of stability that was taken by those we serve. Follow along on our social media platforms to see Mission “wins” such as our program graduates, families finding housing, the impact of our community, and more!
7. Serve Warm Meals to the Hungry
While the Mission does so much MORE than meals and shelter, we still need 93 volunteers every single day to help us do this work. The basic necessities are still so important, and we truly couldn’t serve three warm meals a day without our volunteers who faithfully show up.
“It could not be easier to volunteer here. The work that the Mission is doing is more than just giving them food and shelter, it’s giving people whatever it is that they need to get back on their feet and become self-sufficient.”
Debbie, Meal Service Volunteer
8. Don’t Miss a Beat!
Stay up to date on all happenings and inspiring stories of change at the Mission through our blog and emails. Share what you learn with your community and learn about even MORE ways to get involved!
9. Pray With Us to Change Lives
Our Mission Statement is “changing lives in the name of Christ by meeting people at their physical and spiritual points of need with the goal of returning them to society as productive, self-sufficient citizens.” When you partner with the Mission, you are helping us share the love of Christ to those in need.
Join us by becoming a Prayer Partner and sign up to receive monthly prayer and praise updates by email.
10. Serve, Learn & Connect with Young Professionals
As the next generation of leaders, our goal is to help people who are experiencing homelessness and addiction in our city change their lives through hands-on volunteering, learning about current issues affecting homelessness, engaging in events and networking, and connecting with our greater Denver community. Come serve, learn and connect with us!
11. Spread the Word
Share the Mission’s printable service guide with your community and those who need it. This guide provides information on emergency services and rehabilitation and transitional programs for those transitioning out of homelessness.
12. Join Our Mission to End Homelessness, One Life at a Time
Are you looking for meaningful work? Co-workers who treat you like family? Support our mission and vision and become employed or intern with the Mission in Denver or northern Colorado!
