GPHC Update: January 2013

In December, GPHC was able to give away 30 remaining coats to families in need from our Coats for Colorado drive. We also provided holiday food baskets for 45 people, and found sponsors for 10 families needing help for gifts for their children. Thank you so much to the generous families who agreed to take care of our neighbors in need this holiday season. It was heart-warming to know that so many people wanted to help make a difference. As one grateful food box recipient of a holiday ham, milk, eggs, oranges, rolls and a variety of canned goods put it: “No matter what we’re going through, it’s always a Merry Christmas when we can gather together for a good meal!”

This time of year is about new beginnings and fresh starts. January marks the beginning of my official tenure as the Executive Director of GPHC. After serving on the Board of Governors for over a year and filling in as the Interim E.D., I am pleased to accept the position on a permanent basis. My entire career background is in non-profit management, and fundraising for a variety of organizations, including food pantries. I love working with volunteers from all walks of life, and I look forward to working with our members and our Board to enhance community offerings and to serve the needs of Park Hill residents. Please feel free to contact me with any feedback or ideas.

I hope in 2013 you will make a resolution to get more involved with Greater Park Hill Community too! Our community meetings are held at 6:30pm on the 1st Thursday of each month (except July and December) at 2823 Fairfax St., and are a great way to learn about events and programs of interest. It’s also a way for us to gather vital feedback about issues of concern, such as the proposed changes to Smiley Middle School. GPHC memberships, starting as little as $20 per year, help us continue and expand our work on behalf of Park Hill residents. Do you have more time than money? We need regular volunteers for our food pantry to sort & shelve food. We need someone to help take care of our building maintenance, and we need more representatives from our faith community to serve on the GPHC Board and represent the many local churches who’ve been a foundation of GPHC since its inception.

If you are interested in community issues and can commit to attend meetings and volunteer for GPHC projects such as the Park Hill Home Tour, we also need neighborhood representatives for District 1 (residing between Colo Blvd. & Elm, north of 29th Ave); District 8 (Niagara to Quebec, north of 29th Ave.), and District 9 (Magnolia to Quebec, 19th Ave. to 29th). Call me at 303-388-0918 or email GPHC@ecentral.com for more information about how you can help. We need your input and expertise to help keep Park Hill the vital neighborhood we all love.

I look forward to a prosperous new year both for GPHC and our community as a whole. Thank you for your ongoing support in 2012, and best wishes for 2013!

-Robyn

GPHC would like to say THANK YOU to the following people and groups for recent food donations and volunteer time:
• Venture Prep 6-12 Charter School
• Park Hill United Methodist Church
• Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church
• CROP Walk participants
• The University of Wisconsin Alumni Group
• Park Hill Public Library staff (Sue Wofford, Tara Bannon, Michelle et al) & PH Library Patrons
• The Gill Lions Club, Gill, CO
• Blake Leind & Kindra Greentree
• John Beltz of Honey Do Right Home Repair
• Roberta Locke
• Cake Crumbs Bakery
• King Soopers Grocery Stores, at 2810 Quebec St. and 1355 Krameria St.
• Ryan Hunter
• Brownie Troop 1677 ; Kelly Boyer, Group leader
• The Ulbrich Family
• Sharon Steadman & Christopher Dunn
• Geri Reinardy
• Megan Nyce of My Teenage Angst
• Marsha Woodward
• Dave Pilarowski
• Mike Brown & Melissa Kostic
• Colorado Yoga Events
• Don Steward
• Barb McKee
• Yesenia Pasillas
• Alisa Wood
• Patty Shapiro, Susan Hadlock, Madeleine & Mason Whitney & Olivia & Sam Cech
• Roberta Locke, Kim Tighe and Bernadette Kelly
• Birgit Kieft Family
• Numerous anonymous food donors, and the many individual and family members of GPHC