Congratulations, students and teachers! You have made it through a lot this fall semester—our contentious national elections, the COVID-19 pandemic, and now the beginning of the strangest holiday season in recent memory.
We know it has not been an easy time for everyone, but your hard work and flexibility have paid off. For some students, this will be your last semester in college—but for others, your path of higher education has just begun.
As you all know, the holidays are upon us and more people need a little help this year. So here’s some information on community resources for local food banks and for volunteering to help provide for others.
Ways to Get—and Give—Help
We hope the resources below will be useful, whether you need some assistance yourself or want to help out in your community.
Weld County:
Community resources list from the Department of Human Services
Weld Food Bank collects, stores and processes food to distribute to people in need.
The food bank asking for volunteers to help meet the increased need in the community by helping pack food for our neighbors. Choose a shift and sign up to help out!
Boulder County:
Life can get hard—and when it does, Community Food Share is here to support you when you need it the most.
Community Food Share also offers volunteer opportunities for individuals and families. (Important note: All group volunteer opportunities are temporarily closed).
Larimer County:
The Food Bank for Larimer County ensures that those in the community who are hungry have convenient access to free, healthy and nutritious food.
Volunteers are the heart of this organization. Last year, Food Bank volunteers generously contributed more than 41,000 hours of their time—equivalent to 20 full-time staff! Find out how you can help.
Adams County:
The Adams County Food Bank is dedicated to ensuring your family doesn’t go hungry. They also offer assistance applying for SNAP and Medicare, as well as job readiness programs.
Help feed it forward! The food bank relies on volunteers to help distribute food to families, children, seniors, and veterans in need. Here’s how you can get involved.
The Vaccine Is Here
As you probably know, vaccinations for COVID-19 have now begun to roll out across the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website has up-to date-valuable information and frequently asked questions regarding the vaccines. The CDC also provides clinical resources and a need-to-know list for the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Being Safe During the Holidays
By now, we are all familiar with precautions to take to reduce the spread of COVID-19. While you may not have received a vaccine yet, multiple news sources and healthcare related websites continue to advise us to follow the 3 Ws of COVID safety:
- Wear a mask over your nose and mouth.
- Wait six feet apart. Avoid close contact.
- Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer.
We are all in this together—so please, everyone, be safe this holiday season. We look forward to enjoying a brighter, happier and healthier year with you in 2021.
