Are you aware of the levels of poverty that exist in Colorado? You might be surprised by the actual numbers, especially if you live in one of the more affluent counties (or cities) in our state.
On April 16, 2010, the Colorado Springs Gazette reported, “The number of children living in poverty has been growing faster in Colorado than anywhere else in the nation…” A Colorado report published in April 2010 described that the number of Colorado children living at or below the federal poverty level of $22,000 for a family of four rose 72 percent between 2000 and 2008.
In June 2008, The New York Times ran an article about a study by the Colorado Children’s Campaign, a nonprofit group that focuses on child welfare. The Times recapped, “the most recent census data show that 180,000 children — 15.7 percent of the state total — were living in poverty in Colorado in 2006, a 73 percent increase since 2000. No single factor can explain the increase in Colorado, the study said, but a growing number of single parent households, a shortage of jobs for lower wage workers and a low rate of high school graduation contributed.”
Both articles talked about demographic factors, stating that the reports reflected huge differences based on race, ethnicity and location. Based on the findings in the 2010 report, “Hispanic and black children in Colorado are twice as likely to live in poverty as white kids. They also face significant health barriers and fall short in educational achievement compared with white and Asian children.”
The Gathering Place, an organization Dolls for Daughters® has been working with since 2007 by providing new dolls to the families they serve, is a daytime drop-in center in Denver for women and children who are experiencing homelessness and poverty. On their website, it states: “The Metro Denver Homeless Initiative conducts a point-in-time survey every two years to assess the demographics of homelessness in our community. The last survey was taken in January 2011, and found that 11,377 people were homeless in Denver. Of those individuals, 45% were women and 62% were adults living in households with children. Additionally, 23.7% of the individuals surveyed were newly homeless, meaning they have been homeless less than a year and this is their first time to experience homelessness.”
So, what can we do to help, especially those of us who fall into the category of “having plenty”? First, it is important to acknowledge that there is a need right here in Denver, Colorado. We have far too many families living far below the poverty level. Once we accept that the need exists, we can get into action. One way to get involved is to support Dolls for Daughters®. The families we serve each year at our annual toy shop are all in need of assistance. At the toy shop in 2011, we served 835 families and 71.4% of those families made $15,000 or less annually. More than half (67.8%) of these families had three to five children. For our toy shop event, we partnered with Hunger Free Colorado and Food Bank of the Rockies. Food Bank of the Rockies provided food to 500 of these families. The families we serve shouldn’t have to choose between a new toy for their child(ren) or paying their rent. We were able to help them meet some basic needs and have a moment’s reprieve by experiencing a bit of holiday magic.
Currently, DFD supporter Colin Whitenack is helping raise funds through his March Madness basketball tournament pool. We posted his blog last week and already have 100 teams signed up. From those 100, we will receive $300 to go towards gifts for underprivileged children. Colin’s goal was 100+ signups. I’m excited to see how many more than 100 will ultimately participate—imagine, just imagine…
Unfortunately, poverty is a condition in Colorado that isn’t going away anytime soon. In fact, it continues to be on the rise. Your contribution of $5 or $10, or your willingness to get creative—as Colin Whitenack is doing—will make a difference in children’s lives right here in Denver.
How might you get involved?
