Extreme Makeover: Denver Edition

Until August, 2010 2804 Welton Street in Denver was a a small, run down house on a yard of dirt located in the Five Points community. This area is known for crime, poverty, and with some of the worst schools in Colorado... 

When HALO comes into a community, we seek out the children with the greatest need. We want an answer the question, "How do we make the most profound impact with our resources?" Since every community is different, we spend a significant amount of time meeting with other non-profits, community leaders, and residents to determine how we can best serve the children. 

In Denver, we started with programming for children living at homeless shelters. Our volunteers now reach hundreds of children each month through art therapy and other programs. After researching the community, Nikki Cady (Denver HALO Director)  discovered that the next greatest need was a safe-haven for children. The children of Five Points needed a stable place to come every day for tutoring, workshops, and fitness programs. These proactive programs are geared toward keeping kids off the street, out of gangs, and succeeding in school. 

With a paint job, a lot of elbow grease and countless volunteers, that house now serves as a safe-haven. Every night, 64 children come through those doors to receive tutoring, art therapy, and workshop instruction. These are children who most likely receive free lunches at school, come from a single parent home, or who are bouncing around in the foster care system. 

I recently heard a group wanted to do some landscaping at the center. I was excited to hear this since the dirt yard was less than appealing. My husband Eddie and I showed up that Saturday morning to find more than 30 volunteers laying sod, planting a garden, spreading rocks, planting flowers, and putting in a basketball court. It was way more than we imagined and needless to say, tears came to my eyes. 

Concerts for Kids is run by Walter and Khristie Isenberg, a wonderful couple who are making a great impact in this world. They organize huge concerts each year to raise funds for organizations in Denver. The Isenbergs use their contacts in resources to get corporations donate materials and ask their employees to volunteer at the sites. That Saturday over 800 volunteers were doing the same thing at other non-profits around Denver. 

The HALO Center paints a different picture now.  What was once a desolate, worn down corner is now a beautiful lot with a vibrant home full of kids who deserve a safe haven. It shows promise and hope of a bright future for that community.