Living in the countryside comes with its perks. Residents along the eastern plains, as well as the western slope, are able to enjoy their land, animals and families with room to stretch out and grow. The small towns along the corridor specifically, enjoyed a large amount of individuality. Watkins, Strasburg, Byers and Deer Trail have very distinct characteristics. Whether it’s dominant sports teams at the high school, community centers, or grocery stores, the towns that we live in stand out from each other.
That doesn’t mean that we need to be competitive in all areas. It would be however, beneficial for the events and activities for these towns to be housed all in one place. For those of us who have lived here for years, word of mouth or prior knowledge is the best way to stay informed about upcoming sponsored activities. However, unless you search for each individual town’s happenings, you might miss out on the amazing things that there are to do along the corridor. |
Social media does do a pretty good job of hosting events like Bennett Days, or karaoke night at Lulu’s, but it might be nice if all of these elements from all of the towns were submitted on one community calendar for everyone to see. Aside from the Facebook pages, and the I-70 Scout, there is no central location to find out about upcoming events. Imagine being able to hit up one site that has all of the farmer’s markets throughout the summer, as well as the May Farms food truck opportunities, and craft fairs all in one spot. If this is something that you are interested in being a part of, then let’s talk! Send us a note below, and let’s see what kind of traffic there is to get it ALL IN ONE PLACE. |
GIVING BACK - SUGGESTIONS FOR CHARITABLE GIVING
The following organizations are suggestions for local and nationally charitable donations. We have focused on groups that support veterans and military organizations, as well as human trafficking of women and young people.
Tunnel to Towers - started in the name of Firefighter Stephen Gerard Siller, who lost his life, along with hundreds of others during the tragedy of September 11th at the Twin Towers. This charity helps provide homes to families of fallen first responders to ensure that spouses and children are taken care of.
Rocky Mountain Dawgs Project - this local charity has successfully built a bridge between retired service dogs and retired servicemen and women who are suffering from PTSD and other war related injuries.
Tim Tebow Foundation - As a former NFL football player and commentator for the college circuit, Tim makes his work for Christ his priority. He is seeking to build the kingdom by spreading the love of God’s Word and salvation. This foundation answers the call through orphan care, anti-trafficking efforts and special needs ministries.
The A21 Campaign - one of the largest organizations in the world that is solely focused on ending human trafficking. This international group works with local governments, other non-profits, law enforcement and other entities to free men, women and children from the modern day forms of slavery.
Homes For Our Troops - The goal of HFOT is to provide Veterans who were injured in wars that came after 9/11 with custom homes built with their disability in mind. More than 300 custom homes have been provided to Veterans, all at no cost to them. These custom homes can be found nationwide.
Wounded Warriors Family Support - This organization offers several programs that help not only Veterans but also their families. Some of the programs WWFS provides include paying for memorable vacations for families and training to help find Veterans careers, and offering custom vehicles designed to give back freedom and independence to wounded Veterans.
Gary Sinise Foundation - this charity has many avenues to help soldiers return to home after combat. The foundation provides mortgage-free housing, helps veterans overcome some of the hardships that can arise from serving in the military, as well as helping build relationships between military and civilian communities.
Reintegra - This group has several offices throughout the southwest. They seek to educate the public and advocate for survivors of human trafficking by sharing survivor stories and providing scholarships and grants for two safe houses. The safe houses in Mexico City and Costa Rica help rehabilitate survivors and provide financial, emotional, and psychological support.