Cindy Lempke
Whether your steps equal a mile to fight human trafficking or you step out for an evening of music, you have many opportunities this month to support our nonprofits. Helping them sustain their financial health only enhances the qualify of life for our entire community. Let’s step forward!
The Barefoot Mile Invites Walkers to Unite Against Trafficking
Walk a mile without (or with) your shoes on Saturday, August 21 at the Barefoot Mile fundraiser for JOY International, a global nonprofit organization based in Conifer which is dedicated to the rescue, restoration and reintegration of children, teens and young women affected by human trafficking.
Walkers step off at 10 am at the Marshdale Park Soccer Field, 6979 S Ocelot Trail, Evergreen. Participants can join as individual walkers or form a team. While there is no entry fee, walkers are encouraged to set up their participation online at bit.ly/3CfWSY0 to make donations and record contributions from friends and families. The fundraising goal for the Mountain Community Barefoot Mile in 2021 is $50,000.
A fun family atmosphere will feature live music by the Wrecklunds, a silent auction, children’s activities, and plenty of open space in the park for your camp chairs and picnic basket. Since this is an outdoor event, there are no mask requirements, although masks are encouraged for non-vaccinated participants.
All event proceeds benefit JOY International. Money raised will support police training, special rapid response teams, awareness campaigns, emergency relief, resources for parents, and community education. Barefoot Mile walks are held across the country.
JOY works with partners around the world to prevent trafficking, meet the basic needs of those most vulnerable to being trafficked, rescue victims of trafficking, and provide safe, healing environments for survivors. JOY International, founded by Dr. Jeff Brodsky of Conifer, has empowered the rescue of over 2,500 children and young women from commercial sexual exploitation. Brodsky has gone completely barefoot for more than 10 years in solidarity with impoverished and trafficked children around the world who are at high risk of being forced into the sordid world of the child sex trade. To raise awareness of JOY’s mission, he remains barefoot even in our mountain winters and throughout his travels around the world. To learn more about JOY and Brodsky’s story, visit joy.org and thebarefootmile.org.
Experience Mountain Magic at the August 21 Resilience1220 Fundraiser
It promises to be another magical evening in the mountains when our community gathers at the picturesque Lucky Penny Ranch to experience the music of the talented Dakota Blonde and raise funds in support of the vital mission of Resilience1220. You are invited to bring your own chairs, picnic foods and beverages (no dogs) and settle in for a relaxing evening from 5-8 pm at the ranch, located at 5801 Bluebell Lane in Evergreen. For your convenience, there will be a Slife’s Devil Dogs food truck onsite along with a cash bar.
Tickets are $35 in advance at resilience1220.org, and $40 at the door. All proceeds benefit Resilience1220’s programs including free individual counseling, support groups and educational initiatives to promote mental wellness for youth throughout the mountain area. Event sponsors include Gail Sharp/Lucky Penny Ranch, Evergreen Discount Liquors, Slife’s Devil Dogs, Watering Bowl, Evergreen Rentals, and Columbia Sanitary and Columbia Potties for the Rockies.
Cody Slaughter’s Elvis Show Returns to Benefit Mount Evans Hospice
Elvis has not left the building! It has been two years since Cody Slaughter has brought Elvis to life through his wildly entertaining performance and he is excited for his post-pandemic return to raise funds for Mount Evans Home Health Care & Hospice.
Tickets, which typically disappear quickly, went on sale August 2 for Slaughter’s “Elvis Memories and More!” performances on Saturday, October 23 at 7:30 pm and on Sunday, October 24 at 3 pm at the Lakewood Cultural Center. Concert ticket prices have not increased. Admission options are $35, $45 and $55. Tickets may be purchased online at lakewoood.org/tickets, by phone at 303.987.7845 or in person at the Cultural Center Box Office at 470 S. Allison Parkway, Lakewood. At press, the theater had lifted restrictions related to COVID-19.
Concert proceeds benefit the outstanding services provided by Mount Evans to care for those who need in-home therapeutic services and to support patients and families on their hospice journey. You can learn more about the nonprofit’s mission at mtevans.org.
Evergreen Rotary August 28
Recycle Day Covers All the Bases
Whether you want to recycle appliances, electronics, plastic, Styrofoam or slightly warn bicycles, the annual Rotary recycling day in memory of Rotarian and environmental steward Mereth Meade is all about helping you to be environmentally responsible. The event runs from 9 am – 2 pm at Evergreen Country Day School, 1036 El Rancho Road.
The Rotary is working with several partners engaged in environmental sustainability. Golden Real Estate delivers a truckload of polystyrene to a Denver factory for reprocessing/recycling, keeping at least 200-cubic-yards of the material out of the landfill every year. Donated Styrofoam must be white only, with no printing, and free of other materials.
3R Technology Solutions will assist with recycling your appliances such as stoves, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, freezers, microwaves and regular ovens. Also accepted will be sinks, toilets, bathtubs, carpet, flooring, doors, windows, water heaters, gas grills, swingsets, patio furniture, woodstoves and scrap metal. You can recycle a host of electronics including televisions, computer monitors, computers and any small household electronic device that plugs in or runs on batteries. Vehicle batteries, engine blocks, car parts and small gas engine equipment such as lawnmowers are eligible as well.
Trex is the Rotary partner for recycling plastics such as grocery and dry cleaning bags, bubble wrap, Ziploc and other resealable food storage bags. Plastics must be clean, dry and free of paper and food residue. As a bonus, Trex will provide the community a free outdoor bench made from recycled plastic for every 500 pounds of plastic collected.
If you have sensitive documents that you wish to shred, All American Records Management will safely and securely provide this service for a per-box or per-bag fee. If you have mattresses to dispose of, Spring Back Colorado will take them off your hands for $15 per piece. Twin, full and queen mattresses are $30 and King sets are $45. Mattresses must be dry and mold free.
If a used bike is taking up space in the garage, you can donate it and help a youngster in need. Lucky to Ride will recycle your gently used bicycles and help serve underserved and at-risk youth. Bicycle trailers and baby joggers will gladly be accepted by Crutches4Africa and repurposed to help individuals from impoverished villages who do struggle with mobility issues.
For a complete list of items and any related recycling fees, go to evergreenrotary.org.
