Denver Children’s Advocacy Center (DCAC) is fortunate to have the generous support of dedicated individuals and companies. And, we’re always grateful to have new interest and enthusiasm for our work. From supplies to recurring monthly donations and from corporate sponsorships to hands-on volunteer efforts, every contribution helps us fulfill our mission to prevent abuse, strengthen families, and restore childhood.
July is a month that often weighs heavy on the minds of those who are dedicated to preventing child abuse, like our team at DCAC. With most children out of school and many not participating in formalized activities, reports of child abuse go down as children are less likely to be around adults who can identify and report abuse. In fact, calls to the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline (844-CO-4-KIDS or 844-264-5437) “drop by 24% on average because teachers and other school-based mandatory reporters are no longer interacting with children every day.” CO4Kids stresses the importance of all adults being aware of the 5 Protective Factors that parents and caregivers can learn to reduce the likelihood of abuse. And all adults should be aware of signs of abuse and call the hotline if child abuse is suspected.
At DCAC, we know that while summer is a slower season of child abuse reporting and treatment, the need is still present and will be evermore apparent when school starts in the fall. That makes July a great time for DCAC supporters to ramp up your contributions so that we have the resources to provide prevention and treatment services when needed. Keep reading for ways you can get involved today.
Monthly Donations Create Momentum
DCAC’s Impact Circle donors provide monthly donations, creating consistency that allows us to plan for and deliver continuous services for children who have experienced abuse. Loyal, consistent donors are the foundation of any nonprofit, and DCAC is honored to have the support of monthly donors. Many who participate in monthly donations do so because they appreciate spreading out their donation throughout the year–it makes it easier for them to budget and plan (and DCAC, too). Sign up to be a monthly donor through DCAC’s Impact Circle.
Host an Event to Raise Funds, Awareness for DCAC
Individuals, groups, or companies can host an event benefiting DCAC. This can be something as simple as asking your guests at a birthday party to donate to DCAC instead of bringing gifts or it might be a company or organization planning a fundraiser like a pickle ball or golf tournament where all proceeds are donated to DCAC. Check out suggestions about how to get started in the drop down options of our other ways to give page. If you are interested in finding out more about how to host an event in support of DCAC, contact Michelle Davis, Development Director, at MDavis@DenverCAC.org or 720-974-7231. And check out our upcoming events here.
Donate Supplies, Snacks, and More
For some, giving tangible items feels more meaningful. DCAC has other ways to give to make it easy for you to pick and choose what you would like to donate. From snacks for our children receiving services to art and school supplies, there’s something for everyone–and every donation truly makes a difference in the lives of children we serve.
DCAC recently received 160 bags from my My Stuff Foundation to share with the children and families we serve. These bags are filled with items that meet children’s immediate physical and emotional needs, supplying us with essentials and comforting items for our most vulnerable children. Thank you!
We’re so grateful to Olipop for recently donating four cases of drinks to help keep children refreshed and comfortable during their therapy sessions at DCAC. Support like this helps us create a welcoming environment for the children and families we serve.
We’re always looking for generous partners to help stock our pantry and fridge with snacks and drinks. This summer, we’re running low on the following: individual snack packs of popcorn, Goldfish Crackers, Cheez Its, pretzels, Oreos, cookies, and fruit snacks; juice boxes, flavored sparkling water, and Gatorade. Check out our Amazon Wish List where you can order items and have them sent directly to our office. Or, we welcome drop-off donations at our site, 2149 Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80211, which is open Monday through Friday 9 am-5 pm.
Volunteer with Your Organization or Individually
DCAC is fortunate to have the generous support of individual volunteers and teams who dedicate time and energy to helping us achieve our mission. A great example of this is recently the following organizations chipped in to give our DCAC campus a beautiful refresh:
- Digible Marketing Agency spruced up our grounds, planted rose bushes, and deep cleaned our therapy rooms. Check out this video of their efforts.
- SM Energy added more flowers, created a rock garden, and tackled lawn care.
- International Facilities Managers (IFMA) Denver Chapter installed new flooring, replaced porch steps, and deep cleaned carpets in all three houses.
- A special thanks to the following IFMA Denver members who volunteered: Anthea White, Amber Throckmorton, Dillon Taylor, Nolan Stack, Russell Simon, Tina Sharples, Mark Rosenmeier, Damion Rice, Mark Norin, Randy S. Murray, Vimol Mitchell, Josh Mcilwain, Brandon Linstrom, Kimberly K. Kellogg, Max Karelas, Morgan Hoddes-Flores, Todd Henry, Ellie Frederickson, Newman N. Forrester, Sara Everin, Jennifer Esgro, Deven Eastridge, Gloria J. Clark, Pedro Barajas Jr, Chris Ayotte
Other organizations and individuals that made valuable contributions to add to our campus refresh include:
- Paul Davis Restoration donated lumber.
- Avoda supplied wood shakers.
- Balfour donated safety glasses and gloves.
- Sherwin Williams donated paint.
- Waxie donated cleaning materials.
- Larkin donated replacement flooring.
- Palace Restoration donated water, donuts, and vendors’ time.
Our regular volunteers keep the day-to-day operations running smoothly. Learn more about each of them and their contributions to DCAC in our volunteer newsletter.
Are you or your organization interested in volunteering with DCAC? We’d love your support. Simply fill out this form and we’ll be in touch.
You Can Make a Difference
Whether you choose to make a donation or volunteer, every action truly makes a difference for the children and families DCAC serves. As Hellen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
If you have any questions about how to get involved, please reach out to Michelle Davis, DCAC Development Director, at 720.974.7231 or mdavis@denvercac.org. To stay updated about DCAC and opportunities to support our mission, sign up for our monthly newsletter.