GPHC Command Central: What A Year!
A Snapshot Of The All That Was Done In 2024
By Lori Midson
Executive Director, GPHC, Inc.
2024 worked out well for some and not so rosy for others. Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. (GPHC) continued its longstanding tradition of embracing — and uniting — its community, lifting up those in need and advocating on behalf of our neighborhood.
The work we do to foster, engage and bolster our community is so, so important, but we’re acutely aware that our donors, volunteers and members are the backbone of everything we do. We are profoundly grateful for the enormous amount of good you’ve done for this organization.
Because of your support and generosity, we have much to celebrate. Here is a snapshot of our 2024 highlights and accomplishments.
• Several years ago, our board of directors began the lengthy process of fully electrifying our building. And this year, it happened. GPHC is now completely electrified and solar-powered.
• The Home Tour & Street Fair, our flagship fundraiser, was our most successful in a decade. Home Tour ticket sales increased, as did our sponsorships and vendor participation.
• Our food pantry, which operates every Monday and Wednesday throughout the year, provided meals to more than 7,300 food-insecure individuals — the largest number in GPHC’s history.
• Combined, our five community food programs — the food pantry, Thanksgiving box giveaway, spring vegetable seed and seedling program, seasonal produce stand and weekend food program — nourished more than 12,000 individuals and families, again shattering records. We distributed a staggering 100,000 pounds of food in 2024, more than any previous year.
• Friends, neighbors, churches, food banks, grocers, farms and businesses donated a record 78,000 pounds of food to stock our pantry shelves, farm stand table and Thanksgiving boxes.
• GPHC received a $50,000 grant from the Climate Protection Fund to purchase and distribute HEPA air purifiers and replacement filters to approximately 375 low-income residents in Northeast Park Hill.
• Helmed by Editor Cara DeGette, the Greater Park Hill News, which GPHC publishes, received 19 prestigious journalism awards for stories, columns, news, features and photos published in 2023.
• Our memberships base increased by 16 percent over 2023.
• We raised $12,300 in Colorado Gives Day donations.
• Volunteers collectively contributed 8,000 hours of service in 2024.
What remarkable gifts!
There’s more to celebrate, but my word count runneth over, as does my gratitude. I hope 2024 brings optimism, peace, spontaneity, happiness and joy into your lives. And thank you for being a part of ours. Happy New Year.
Food Pantry Needs
Food pantry visits have skyrocketed over the last year, and our pantry shelves always need replenishing. If you’re at the grocery store, please consider buying a few items to donate.
• Canned tuna, salmon, chicken, Vienna sausages & Spam
• Cereal and oatmeal
• Canned tomatoes, tomato paste and tomato sauce
• Pasta sauce
• Hearty soups and stews
• Canned ravioli and chili
• Canned refried, kidney and pinto beans
• Canned corn, peas and green beans
• Canned pineapple and Mandarin oranges
• Instant coffee and teabags
• Shelf-stable pasta and rice dishes (Rice-a-Roni, Knorr pasta and rice sides)
• White rice
• Can openers
• Toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, razors, shaving cream and body wash)
• Paper towels and toilet paper
We accept unopened and unexpired (please be mindful of expiration dates) food donations between 8:45 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays and between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. Our office is at 2823 Fairfax St. Unopened and unexpired donations can also be dropped off in the bins inside Mayfair Liquors at 14th and Krameria and the Park Hill Library at Montview and Dexter during their normal business hours. Food pantry needs are updated as needed on the GPHC website: greaterparkhill.org/food-programs/emergency-food-pantry/. We also welcome food drives on our behalf. To set up a food drive, please contact Lori Midson: director@greaterparkhill.org.
GPHC Membership
Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. is a membership-based organization whose voice is only as influential as its members. To become a member — or renew your membership — go to greaterparkhill.org/join-us/become-a-member/ or drop off a check (and say hello) at our office. We look forward to serving you as a valued member, listening to your ideas and input and working collaboratively on projects, programs and issues.
Thank you to our current members, donors and volunteers for your kindness, in-kind and financial contributions, involvement and dedication. You are deeply appreciated.
The following organizations and individuals donated to and volunteered with Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. last month:
Businesses, Churches and Groups
Augustana Lutheran Church
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
Cake Crumbs Bakery and Cafe
Ceremony Barber Shop
Cure D’Ars Catholic Church
Curtis Park Deli
Dahlia Campus Farms and Gardens
Dank-Colorado
Food Bank of the Rockies
Hardt Family Cyclery
Messiah Community Church
Montview Community Preschool
Oneida Street Neighbors
Palmer Elementary School
Park Hill Branch Library
Park Hill United Church of Christ
Park Hill United Methodist Church
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Starbucks
Individuals and Families
Karen Adkins
Sylvia Aldena
Alice and Marc Applebaum
John and Mary Ellen Arthur
Penny Ashley-Lawrence
Nicole Baker
Kate Baldwin Wenzel
Amy Barrett
Dede Barry
Cathy Bauchwitz
Howard Belon
Elizabeth Bennett
Estelle and Charles Bennett
Holly Bennett
Christine Bloch
Dennis Boucher
Abby Burton
Jennifer Calderone
Inga Calvin
Bruce and Brenda Campbell
Phillip and Teresa Campbell
Ann Canavan
Sandra Caron
Keith Combs
Nancy Connick and Diane Jankowski
Todd Cooper
Christine Dea
Joel Dice
Erin Donovan
Nicola Dudek
Beth and Robert Duncan
Anna Engeln
Jay Epperson
Lee Fisher-Rosenberg
Brooke and Alex Fleming
Anne and Joe Frank
Joshua Freedman
Florence Garbini
Mary Gerwin
Bobbi Gillis
Charm Gilmore
Sheree Goecke
Dee Gourd
Deloris Gourd
Princess Gray
Gretchen Groth
Shriram Gurumoorthy
Lisa Haddox
Heather Haller
Simon Hambidge
Whitney Hamblin
Linda E Hamlin
Amy Harris
Duke Hartman
Nicki Hayes
Trevor Hayes
Natalie Hengel
Jonell Herndon
Mo Hession
Abby Hetterich
Adrienne Hill
Jennifer Hitt
Paula Hoffman
Renee Hopkins
Richard and Ilona Horwitz
Laura Hudgins
Kelly Hudson
Julie Husson
Jody Igo
Thomas Jensen
Julie Ann Jenson
Bill Juraschek
Lynn Kalinauskus and Trevor Williams
Andrew Kingel and Troy Tomsyck
Michael and Wendy Klein
Blair Knicely
Erin Kobler
TJ Kubo
Nina and Mark Kuhl
Jacqueline Lansing
Martha Lassen
Don Lefkowits
Penny Lehmann
Samantha Lehni Reeves
Troy and Jessica Lerner
Grant and Cory Levinson
Shontel Lewis
Roberta Locke
Lucy Loomis
Mary Jo Lorenz
Natalie and Patrick Love
Tracy Macdermott and Heather Shockey
Margie Maeder
Christina and Dan Manzanares
Gary Martyn
Richard McCanna
Kelly McGovren
Tayo and Marty McGuirk
Babette and Randy McQueen
Lynn Mendell
Chris Merman
Lori Midson
Katherine Miller
Laura Mitchell
Laurel Mohr
Pam Moore
Brenda Morrison
Harriet Mullaney
Charles Nelson
Monica Newman
Chris and Erin Nielson
Susan Niermeyer and John A Brett
Allison Nuanes
Peg Oldham
Zach Overgaard
Patricia Paul
Jessica and Jeff Pearson
Gordon Phair
Francesca Pinto
Betsy and Geoff Post
Kurt Reisser
Barbara and Charles Reyman
Mark & Clare Rhine
Ashley Rice
Jennie Ridgley
Steven and Joan Ringel
Krista Roberts
Jeffrey Roberts
Cathy Rock
Sarah Romer
Robert and Joan Root
Ann Sabbah
Mary Salsich
Shelly Scales
Christine Schaefer
Leo and Kathleen Schettler
Marti Schulte
Elaine Selsberg
Sarah Sexton
Barbara Sharp
Ashish Singh
Don Smith
Cheryl Solko
Sarah Speicher
Kait Speth
Matthew and Elizabeth Spohn
Erik Stark
Mary Jo Stark
Mary Jo Starmer
Christopher Stewart
Julie Strawn
Ellen Sullivan
Katherine Swan
Sarah Swanson
Penfield Tate III
Scarlett Thomas
Ann Torgerson
John A Tull
Shaylisa Turner
Piep Van Heuven
Jane Wainwright
Jewel Wegs
Jenna Westbrook
Erin Westmoreland-King
Nikki Wiederaenders
Anastasia Williamson
Judy Wolfe
Kaitlin Wolff
Beth Wright
John Wyszynski
Karen Zollars
Food Pantry Volunteers
David Addor
Jasmine Brubaker
Zana Brown
Bruce Campbell
Audrey Diamontopoulis
Claudia Fields
Princess Gray
Andy Hartman
Paula Marinelli
Betsy Post
Mark Pressey
Melanie Rich
Carole Robertson
Deb Rosenbaum
Ann Salamy
Heather Selph
Newspaper bundlers
Hank Bootz
Martha Douglas
Maria Flora
Ian MacDonald
Sheila MacDonald
Sheldon Sidney Mikesell
Laurel Mohr
Mike Quigley
Mary Salsich
Shoshi Shaw
Nan Young