DRY CREEK SERvice TO MAnkind
AFFILIATES
STORIES OF IMPACT
We are truly grateful to have the opportunity to assist organizations that serve people in need. We appreciate the letters of thanks, identifying where the donations were used and how the assistance impacted lives. The following are excerpts from some of those letters.
AFFILIATES
CHILDREN'S ADVISORY NETWORK
IPADS were purchased to facilitate the therapy programs held in the homes of 15 clients. Educational brochures were purchased to educate 400 parents in the metro area. We would like you to know that helping us with our projects is also appreciated by everyone in the organization.
Our Saturday program is quite challenging. Our children are often adopted with many educational, speech, and emotional difficulties in their daily life. Peer interaction and daily life skills is one focus of our therapy goals.
One of our older client’s came to us at age 3. She was unable to sit up, had limited signs, and no verbal speech. After several sessions she started to verbalize just sounds but we worked with signs and sounds to improve communication. In six months, she was able to sit up and ride. She now is grade level educationally, walking with support and working on peer interaction.
Signs were purchased to market hippotherapy program serving 45 children, in addition to purchase halters, brushes and horse treats. Through the Safe Ears program, 1652 children were screened for hearing, vision, and/or speech and language disorders. Approximately 15% were referred for further evaluation to professionals in the community. Educational bookmarks, ear protection plugs, and educational materials were also provided to families and teachers at the schools and sent home in SafeEar Bags. A total of 975 free materials were provided through Dry Creek donations.
DOCTORS CARE
The Dry Creek Sertoma's donation of hats, gloves, socks, and slippers assists us in our mission to provide quality, compassionate care and reliable support services to low-income and underserved individuals and families in South Metro Denver. In 2019, nearly 4,500 individuals to quality, affordable primary and specialty care and support services. The clinic welcomed over 850 new patients and provided 7,400 office visits. Your donations and financial assistance will ensure that all work continues. Your donation helps eliminate barriers to health care while empowering others to be part of the solution to keeping our entire community healthy.
"The COVID-19 outbreak has come with many challenges. For Doctors Care, we are experiencing a loss of revenue due to less people coming in for onsite well visits, the ADA shutting down dental hygiene services, and the organization's inability to serve patients solely through telehealth visits. While revenue has dropped about 50%, costs for supplies to keep the entire facility clean and virus-free during visits have increased. Funds from Dry Creek Sertoma will help keep Doctors Care stocked and prepared as we continue to serve the community's most vulnerable population."
EASTERSEALS
Easterseals Colorado's Neurological Rehabilitation Adult Day Program offers a comprehensive recovery program for stroke survivors and other individuals living with neurological disorders. Easter seals Colorado uses the funding from the Dry Creek Sertoma Club to provide speech therapy as part of the comprehensive recovery program. Easter seals Colorado's newly renovated Neurological Rehabilitation Center offers daily physical,m occupational, speech and cognitive therapies along with case management services. A team of professionals evaluate each participants's needs and together develop individualized treatment plans.
Walter came to the Easterseals Colorado's Neurological Rehabilitation Adult Day Program after surviving a left hemisphere Ischemic stroke, affecting his right side. When he began the program, his mobility and speech were severely limited. Expressive language was particularly challenging. Committed to improving his speech Walter worked individually with a speech therapist, participated in group speech therapy, and worked independently using the trained activities on the program's iPad. Thanks to this speech therapy, Walter's ability express himself through language continues to improve with every passing week.
August, 2017: "In July 2014, Paul suffered a stroke, After the stroke, he needed speech, physical and occupational therapy. Insurance benefits were quickly exhausted. In desperate need to additional therapies he could afford, Paul and his daughter, Jennifer immediately made an appointment with Easterseals Colorado where they were impressed by the program and the staff. 'They gave us hope when none existed.' Paul has become a part of the Easterseals' family and his progress both socially6 and physically has improved greatly. Jennifer said, 'I, too have had respite, thanks to the time he spends at Easterseals. I am renewed and therefore, a better daughter, caregiver and friend.' Individuals like Paul and countless others strive to return to activities of daily living. Through our 9 different program areas, people with disabilities and their families can receive the supports they so desperately need!"
"Speech therapy is a critical component of Easter Seals Colorado's Rehabilitation Services and Stroke Day Program. It quite literally gives people back their voice after a stroke." The programs operate five days per week. Throughout the day, participants have access to the following services: physical, occupational and speech therapies, therapeutic cognitive support, warm water therapy exercise and other fitness activities. Additionally participants are surrounded by peers, giving them the opportunity to enhance social skills and share life experiences.
SPONSORSHIPS
ARAPAHOE SANTA CLAUS SHOP
Arapahoe Santa Claus Shop is an all-volunteer, community-based non-profit providing free toys to deserving children in Littleton, Englewood, and Sheridan. Dry Creek Sertoma provided toys for preschool age boys and girls and volunteer time to set up and hand out the toys. Over 1,300 kids received toys last year.
ASPEN CAMP OF THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, staff, and most of all, the Deaf children we serve, thank you for your generous support of our mission. Your generosity is appreciated. In the words of one participant's parent, "I'd like to truly, truly thank Aspen Camp for giving my son the most amazing experience he's ever had in his life. He wants to go back for the whole summer? We are at a loss for words on how fortunate we were to have Aspen Camp accept our son."
ARAPAHOE RESCUE PATROL, INC
The Arapahoe Rescue Patrol is solely supported by donations, to provide search and rescue free of charge to anyone who needs or requires them. The citizens of Littleton, Arapahoe County and the State of Colorado benefit from donations. The donations go toward training, specialized rescue equipment, fuel, insurance, etc to keep their services free. Over the years, the Arapahoe Rescue Patrol has made training its members to the best of their ability a main priority. With this training comes a necessity for up to date equipment that can safely be used for patrol operations. As equipment wears out, donations such as those provided by the Dry Creek Sertoma Club are what keep the patrol functioning.
The 2018 contribution went toward the purchase of a new command post trailer. The 2019 contribution is earmarked for radios and spare batteries to replace older radios radios that will not communicate with new devices.This radio technology that the emergency agencies around the sate used is continually changing and getting more advanced. The rescue of people lost, injured, separated from others requires the ability to communicate with Command Base. Dry Creek's support will help to acquired these much needed radios.
Bessie's Hope
Investments in Bessie's Hope help strengthen the very fabric of our society through the strands o compassion empathy and respect woven across generations by our work. Bessie's Hope works with approximately 2,000 youth and hundreds of adults each year in volunteer programs that serve hundreds of nursing home/assisted living elders. Currently Bessie's Hope is distributing, throughout the metro Denver area, cards, gifts, letters, DCs, DVDs to the elder care facilities. The car allowances, including gas, is facilitated through Dry Creek's donation.
SERTOMA FIELD OF DREAMS
The Sertoma Field of Dreams is a baseball camp that reaches out to children with hearing challenges who normally may not have the chance to learn and play in highly skilled sports, nor have the opportunity to play organized baseball and other sports programs. All attendees are from ages 7 to 17 years. Several Sertoma clubs assist in this two day camp. Additionally, Dry Creek's donation paid for approximately 50 camper T-shirts. "Funds are limited so this really helps us reach children with hearing challenges."
"The funds you sent will almost pay for all our (sign language) interpreters that we have during camp. The sign language interpreters are an important part of our offered services. Children will be able to communicate with our coaches more effectively with the interpreters. Thank you so much for your donation. You have helped in a very significant way."
GraceFull Foundation and Cafe
GraceFull Community Cafe and its partner Foundation provides a home in the Littleton community where people of all backgrounds can gather, eat well and be inspired to give back. GraceFull serves an average of 50 free meals each day. The donated funds will be used to support this cause and care for vulnerable members of our community. These meals provides to those in need "one less thing to think about and stress about."
FREE THE GIRLS
Our vision at Free The Girls is to see a world in which previously enslaved women are leading vibrant, successful, integrated lives. Our unique model of safe economic opportunity and holistic reintegration is providing a way for survivors to experience true freedom. As one of the women in our program says, "This project had made such a huge difference in my life and the lives of my children".
INTEGRATED FAMILY COMMUNITY SERVICES
"The club's kind donation will assist IFCS in meeting the needs of low-income children in the surrounding Western Arapahoe and Northern Douglas Counties. Our key enrichment program is the Ready Set School Backpack and School Supply project. Dry Ceek Sertoma will assist IFCS in providing the tools of success - specialized mathematic calculators for high school students. These special instruments are mandated for the classroom and need to be supplied for passing the course. These low-income students come from often single families and are seeking to overcome the poverty obstacles that challenge their education and prosperity in the search for a successful future.
Dry Creek Sertoma members have made a difference in the community and municipalities that we serve together. Ultimately, you are bringing aid to families and individuals dealing with societal obstacles. Although 76% of our clients are single mothers with children, you have helped serve generations of individuals that are seeking to overcome societal obstacles."
INTERNATIONAL HEARING DOG, INC
"Hearing Dog, Cedar was placed in Centennial in late June of 2017 with a gentleman named John. He has been without hearing since birth and uses hearing aids. John also communicates through sign language. He is retired and living alone and requested a dog to help him know where sounds are coming from and for companionship. As a result of age and his hearing loss, John has balance difficulties and must walk with a walker. Cedar was chosen specifically for John because he calm and enjoys being in laps, but also eager to help alert to sounds. John shared.'Cedar is settling right in and is very enthusiastic answering the door and doing the fire alarm. Very mellow little guy; all the people and dogs he meets say he's quite the gentleman. He's also getting more playful and has lots of personality around me.' Thanks for all you've done for both of us.We appreciate it."
LISTEN FOUNDATION
Dry Creek Sertoma's funds have been used to enroll children into the Children's Listening and Speech Language Program to assist children in learning how to listen and talk. It is so critical during the COVID-19 pandemic to continue receiving community support. All of our families have received therapy via tele-health, so funding is necessary to ensure that the children do not have an interruption in this time sensitive therapy. The Rocky Mountain Hospital for children is starting a cochlear implant center and need help from the Listen Foundation for rehabilitation services in both English and Spanish. The Listen therapists have been able to increase their services to both populations.
"The Listen office received a call from University Hospital about a young girl who just received a cochlear implant and needed therapy to learn how to listen and talk. During this critical time after implant, the family was going to lose their medicaid insurance and UCH asked for Listen's help. We were able to pool this donation with monies donated from another Sertoma club to fund the therapy this girl needed to process sound from the new implant . . perfect timing! We so appreciate the extra funding this year - Thank you!" "By making crucial therapy available as soon as possible, regardless of financial situation, your contribution helps us to provide life changing possibilities for our participants."
OPERATION HOMEFRONT
The average family spends $750 on school supplies which can be a huge budget strain for military families. Supplying backpacks to the Back-to-School Brigade event will benefit 950 military children in Colorado who struggle with school supply expenses. We are grateful for the support (through donation of backpacks and money to buy school supplies) from generous donors that support our military families to build strong, stable and secure military families who thrive in the communities they have wore so hard to protect. Additionally, your financial support makes it possible for Operation Homefront to serve the men and women, and their families - from financial grants, food assistance, and auto repairs to home repairs for wounded warriors. This provides one small way we can repay those who sacrifice so much to defend our nation and our freedom.
SERTOMA MILE HIGH SOAP BOX DERBY
We run a youth racing program that involves families and their kids. As a member of the All- American Soap Box Derby, we send our Champions to the world Championships in Akron, OH. Through your support, we use the funds to give 3 Champs funds to travel and attend the program which would otherwise would be a significant challenge for the families. We sent 3 Champ families and supported the shipment of 2 rally cars to Akron in July. Our Super Kid racer won our local race and went to Akron. He was with his parents and sister, who as a family won the Best Decorated Table at our spaghetti cook-off fundraiser.
NOURISH MEALS ON WHEELS
In over 50 years of service, Meals on Wheels organization has stood strong in the face of power outages, recessions, and of course Colorado weather. Now we take on a new challenge. COVID-19 is a challenge to our health, to our routine, and to how we interact with each other.l It is also an opportunity to prove our worth in a trying time. Our staff, our volunteers, and dedicated neighbors like you have all stepped up to show they will not be defeated by a disease. The key to surviving and thriving in this pandemic will be continued support of each other.
"The impact of receiving a daily meal is far-reaching for our clients. Getting good nutrition equates to less chronic illnesses. Volunteer visits along with our ancillary services of remembering clients' birthdays and celebrating holidays result in reduced loneliness, anxiety and medical problems. Yet the personal stories of those we serve reveal that our impact often extends beyond the expected.
We are inspired by the feedback we receive from clients. Patricia was hesitant when she started with Meals on Wheels but she has now discovered how little she was eating on her own. She wrote "I am more engaged with family and neighbors. My daughter told me how much better I look & interact with family. I am grateful for the service." The donations from the Dry Creek Sertoma Club enable Meals on Wheels to continue supporting older adults; empowering them to remain independent while improving their health through better nutrition.