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5045 West 1st Avenue • Denver, CO 80219
Client Hours
Monday – Thursday
9:00 am – 12:30 pm
Closed Fridays
Donation Hours
Monday – Thursday
9:30 am – 2:45 pm
or by appointment
THRIFT CENTER Hours
Monday – Thursday
9:00 am – 3:30 pm
Closed Friday thru Sunday
Chief Executive Officer
Michael Bright
Chief Operating Officer
Chris Hill
Fleet Operations Coordinator
Richard Sosiewicz
Director of Medical Services
Cherie` Richards
Medical Office Coordinator
Linda Carabajal Food Bank manager
Dale Olson
Phone:
303.935.7389
Fax:
303.935.3397 |
To contact Program Director:
Chris Hill
Services
- Food
- Clothing on an emergency need basis
- Utility Assistance
- Emergency Shelter Assistance
- Back–to–School Supply Drive
- Adopt-a-Family & The Christmas Store
Click here for
Instructions and application for adoptors- Domestic Violence Aid
- ID replacement
Focus
Life Intervention for families who find themselves in a crisis situation
Goals
• Secure a minimal level of existence for clients and their families
• Build a platform for stability for families in crisis situations
• Meet the basic human needs of disadvantaged families and individuals
Community
As with most major metropolitan areas, Denver citizens face:
• Cost of living increases
• Unstable economic conditions
• Record high unemployment rate
For our clients these problems are often compounded with language and educational issues. Their situation may heighten to crisis if one of the following occurs:
• Domestic violence
• Job loss
• Death in the family
• Illness
Their crisis may be compounded with financial uncertainties. As can be seen with many of the frontline stories, families worry about how they are going meet their basic needs of food, clothing and housing. Our solution is to temporarily alleviate a few of these worries.
Victims of Domestic Violence receive various kinds of assistance from us. We will try to relocate them to a safe place, pay for lodging, and help them restart their lives by giving the security to make the necessary decision and referring them for further care.
The food bank ensures clients in crisis will not starve. The program provides 3 days worth of balanced meals for any size family.
The clothes project ensures clients stay warm and have clothes for work and school. The program provides ready-to-wear clothes that have been washed and pressed.
Shelter assistance guarantees families do not become homeless for the month that we cover this expense. With funding from state and local sources, as well as our supporters, we provide funds for up to one month if an eviction notice is presented at the interview time.
Utility assistance protects families or older adults from utility shut–offs, helping them maintain heat, hot water and electricity in their homes. Along with over 100 other agencies in the Colorado, ACS Community L.I.F.T. is honored to be a fiduciary agent of Energy Outreach Colorado funds. Because of the generosity of thousands of Coloradans as well as businesses and government entities who contribute to this utility assistance fund, we were pleased to assist by distributing over $45,000 of EOC funds in 2009.
Success Story
Story of Yolanda
“Yolanda” needed clothes for herself and her daughter. She had just escaped an unhealthy marriage. She ran away and came to us with nothing. She was on the road to starting a new life and needed help. We gave her clothes, household items, shoes, outer wear and food to ease the hunger pains and her tight budget. A month later she found a job. Today, she supports herself and her daughter. The gift of food and clothes gave her the hope and support needed to become self-sufficient.
Man on a Mission
Interviewers at ACS Community LIFT have the opportunity to meet people who are in circumstances that are rather unfortunate. One morning I met a young, homeless man who had lost all his belongings to the cruelty of a few individuals. Some kids had recently thrown all of his belongings into the river. After recovering a couple of blankets, he was left with just the clothes on his back.
He said he tries to work one day at a time. He gives up early and stands in
line for his assignment but very often gets turned away. “It is probably the way I smell” he said. “I have to take a bath in the river, which is not exactly clean water to start with.”
I took the man back to our clothing department, where he found a change of clothes. I gave him a towel and soap to take a shower right here at ACS Community LIFT. When he appeared again, he looked like a new man: fresh
T-Shirt, blue jeans and pair of cowboy boots.
He was happy and confident that his new outfit would help him find a job. We sent him on his way, after handing him a bag full of personal toiletries such as soap, deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream and other items. We also gave him some food.
I consider it a privilege to be apart of the team at ACS Community LIFT, helping people in need and distributing the many items that are donated, in order that we may give them to the right person at the right time.
By Rhoda Kuhn, Volunteer – Together, we are the difference!
Family Care Policy to Receive Services
Services are provided without regard to any person’s race disability, color, creed, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, veteran status or any other classifications.
Clients MUST bring all of following information to receive assistance. If the client does not have the following documents, only food will be given out on the first visit.
Proof of Identity: Photo ID
Proof of Address: Current address on Driver’s License, utility bill or official government documentation.
Proof of Family Members: Birth Certificate, social security card, custody papers, school records showing parent’s name and address or health records.
Proof of Income: Client’s current pay stub or tax return. If they are laid off, a letter from former employer stating as much. If they do not work for medical reason, they must show documentation. (If a client cannot show proof of income, a referral from another agency, a pastor, physician, teacher, social worker, case manager or police official is acceptable.)
Food
If the client lives in the City and County of Denver, it must be 30 days before they can receive food assistance again. If the client lives outside the City andCounty of Denver, it must be 60 days before they can receive food assistance again.
Clothes
Clothing is given on an as need basis. Emergency needs are considered and met. Some examples of emergency needs are: Disaster victims, domestic violence, job interview, prison assistance and others as determined.
Utility Assistance
Clients may access funds only when they are available. This service is by appointment only. No walk ins will be served. Clients must bring their most recent utility bill as well as other required documentation such as LEAP letters-denial or acceptance. Only the past due portion of the bill can be paid and only once per grant year (Nov 1 thru October 31st). The funds are given to ACS by Energy Outreach Colorado and LEAP rules apply.
Disaster
Food and clothing are available any time in the event of a catastrophe (fire, flood, theft, etc where everything was lost or destroyed.) A referral or proof of loss is required.
click here for Client Resourse Packet
In most cases, clients will need other resources besides what we have to offer. ACS has put together a very comprehensive resource guide that is constantly being updated for accuracy.
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