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Denver Charity Crisis
Stacey Troup
ENG/147
February 16, 2015
University of Phoenix

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Denver Charity Crisis
Denver charities are at risk of extinction. With the need for assistance rising
within Denver counties, local charities are feeling the pinch of incoming donations and
request more involvement from local patrons. Local charities provide a catalyst for
support in their respective neighborhoods through programs designed for self-sustaining
practices. Looking at Food Bank of the Rockies, the largest food bank in the state; a
faith-based charity known as Community of Faith; and finally, a men's charity known as
New Genesis, it becomes apparent how larger charities are keeping their heads above
water while others struggle to maintain their existence. Learning lessons from and
adhering to advice of larger charities will provide necessary guidance to smaller
charities to assist with their efforts for the future.
Food Bank of the Rockies, the largest of the Denver area charities, boasts an
impressive 106,000 sq. ft warehouse and is often viewed by smaller charities as the
beast of all local charities due to the support they receive. Established in 1978, (About
Us, 2015) Food Bank of the Rockies consists of a dual Board of Directors. The first
Board is made up of a 23 member executive staff from surrounding Denver firms, some
of which have a longstanding relationship with the charity (2013-2014 Board of
Directors, 2014). The purpose of the secondary Board, made up of 5 members, is to
makes decisions relating to financial expenditures within the Pension & Endowment
Fund (Providing for our Future, 2014).
The charity is also comprised of a Celebrity Council made up of local celebrities
consisting of news anchors, pro athletes, politicians and many more (Celebrity Council,
2015). "Fundraisers are a huge waste of time," says Kevin Skekkle, Executive Director

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of Food Bank of the Rockies. The Charity, which hosts a celebrity golf outing followed
by a dinner each year as a major source of fundraising efforts, spends in excess of
$60,000.00 to raise around $250,000.00. This might seem a great success to fund
raising, but it puts such an enormous strain on the agency that the agency would rather
not do them. Reducing the amount of charities that partner with this food bank would
assist in the distribution efforts and reduce strain on the staff within the existing
structure (Kevin Skekkle, Personal Communication, 2015). By way of comparison, the
Salvation Army, through its Red Kettle Campaign, raised over $135M nationally in 2014
(News, 2014). With an average volunteer base of around 19,000 putting in over
250,000 hours per year, this is by far the biggest strategic alliance that corporations and
individuals seek to become part of (Volunteers are Amazing, 2014).
In 2014, Food Bank of the Rockies provided 44,341,471 meals which equate to
121,483 meals each day (Total Pounds Distributed, 2014). They accomplish this
through government food grants as well as donated and purchased food. The agency
participates in 885 Hunger Relief Programs in Denver and Wyoming including several
programs for children, seniors and low-income families (Programs & Partners Feed the
Community, 2014). Some of these programs are in conjunction with Feeding America,
a national charity which provides a level of food on a per person/per county basis to
supporting communities in its network (Kevin Skekkle, Personal Communication, 2015).
With the assistance of its national food partners as well as government grants,
the Kid’s Café program, which provides breakfast to low-income children in schools
daily, prepares 1600 lbs of food per day for Denver-area schoolchildren who might
otherwise go hungry (Kevin Skekkle, Personal Communication, 2015). Similarly, the

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Totes of Hope program provides 8-10 lbs of food each Friday to low-income children in
schools so that they may take home to their families for weekend sustenance. This
program receives 1500 lbs of food per week towards its efforts thanks to Food Bank of
the Rockies (Kevin Skekkle, Personal Communication, 2015).
It is because of the reach of this charity that smaller organizations view them as
such a threat. The Food Bank of the Rockies has a strength in numbers and has grown
into the large charity it is today by taking risks, reaching out and strengthening its
relationships within the community.
Community of Faith, a local faith-based charity located in Northglenn, Colorado,
is a partner charity of Food Bank of the Rockies, as many others in the area are. The
charity works directly with partner churches on a four-point assistance program which
consists of prayer, donations, volunteers and financial support. "This support is used by
the charity to work with families and individual persons to help them achieve self-
sufficiency" (Linda Graham, Program Director for Community of Faith, personal
communication, February 1, 2015). On average, the charity assists approximately 400
families per month who fall into the categories of homeless, at risk, disabled and elderly
(Graham, 2015). The charity refers to its patrons as "Partners" and helps them strive
for self-sufficiency. Immediate needs available to the partners of this charity include,
but are not limited to, food assistance, clothing assistance, spiritual guidance, job
search and resume writing.
Through its partner churches, the charity hopes to enact the One Plus One
program. This program would request patrons of select churches, one Sunday per
month, to bring $1.00 plus one non-perishable food item or personal care item which

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would then be donated to Community of Faith to help the patrons within reach of their
respective parish (One + One, 2014).
Within the building is a program called Cold Weather Care. This partner is
committed to finding shelter for families during the cold, winter months. This program,
spearheaded by Ashley Hudson, Clinical Social Worker, assists men, women and
families through its partner churches. Since 2009, the charity has assisted 368
individuals and children (CWC Trifold, N.D.), of which, 64% were placed in stable
housing at the end of the season (Cold Weather Care, 2015).
Cold Weather Care began with a HUD grant in coordination with the Adams
County Housing Authority. “Adams County has the highest percentage of homeless
families in the Denver Metro Area” (CWC Trifold, N.D.). In the 2013-2014 seasons, the
charity had 443 volunteers donating over 12,000 hours to the cause (Cold Weather
Care, 2015). Housing 69 guests and providing 2,445 nights of shelter, this program is
doing everything within its means to combat homelessness (Cold Weather Care, 2015).
The charity provides assistance to those who have been clean of drugs and alcohol for
90 days, have no violent crimes in their background and who are not sex offenders.
Upon program completion, 52.60% of patrons had found jobs during their stay with Cold
Weather Care, thus furthering their self-sustaining goals for their partners (CWC Report,
2014).
Thanks to a relationship with the City of Thornton, the charity also administers a
program referred to as “Thornton Water”. This program assists partners who may be at
risk of having their water disconnected.

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Where Community of Faith falls short is within their fundraising efforts. By
refusing to work with local businesses to assist with fund raising, they not only cut
themselves off from the community at hand but also stifle their progress in terms of
funding. Rock Bottom Brewery, a local headquarter for a larger chain of restaurants,
through its Rock Bottom Charitable Foundation, has been an integral part of fundraising
for charities in the past. At one such event, Rock Bottom Charitable Foundation gave
more than $80,000.00 to local charities through a single day event (RBB Fund Raiser,
2002, Apr 26).
New Genesis charity, located beneath a large church in downtown Denver, is an
emergency shelter program for men only. This partner charity of Community of Faith
receives donated food from local restaurants to assist with their daily meal preparation.
According to Ed McDonald, Assistant Director for New Genesis, the center houses an
average of 166 men per night (Ed McDonald, 2015). Unlike most programs in the area,
New Genesis requires patrons to be part of their program of self-sustenance in order
continue participation (Programs). A modest $63.00 per week provides shelter and food
for the patrons of the program and gradually moves them into work and their own, self-
sustaining residence upon completion (Ed McDonald, 2015). This funding accounts for
80% of the programs overall costs. The remaining 20% of needed revenue comes from
individual and corporate donors who believe in the cause the program supports
(Programs). Certain parameters exist for partner participation in order to keep other
patrons safe. The charity does accept convicted felons but does not allow sex
offenders to enter its program.

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What has become visible during the research of these local charities and their
needs is that the organizations need to have visibility in order to be successful.
Countries such as New Zealand have adapted tax laws that require transparency in
order to maintain their tax shelter status. These governances believe "This will become
a valuable resource for anyone who wants to make an informed donation to charity."
(Tax Law NZ, 2008). A great number of corporate donors require full visibility so that
they may decide if the charity is in line with the vision and mission of their respective
businesses so as to align accordingly. Informed decisions lead to the best outcomes.
Local charities need to embrace government programs that provide for food for
their organization's food pantries. This would enable monies to be freed up for further
outreach. Some charities, such as Community of Faith, struggle with how to feed their
partners because of a lack of funding yet Executive Director, Jim Sines, is adamantly
against government food programs feeling he will “lose control of the mission of the
charity” should he accept such grants (Jim Sines, Personal Communication, 2014).
Food Bank of the Rockies Executive Director, Kevin Skekkle, believes that government
programs are vital to the success of any charitable organizations mission and by
ignoring this; you may hinder your own success (Kevin Skekkle, Personal
Communication, 2015).
Finally, with the electronic age comes the lack of personal interaction. Charities
benefit from the generosity of their volunteers and rely on the capabilities of those who
raise donations for them. There could be a day when a family member, neighbor or
friend may need assistance from a charity to see them through a rough patch and the
charity no longer exists because the community neglected them. Do not allow small

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charities to be placed on the endangered list. Get in and volunteer time, skills, canned
goods, and personal care items to help those in need and benefit local communities. By
working together, positive change for neighborhoods is inevitable. Larger charities are
necessary to the survival of smaller charities as they are a “feeder”. Without them, many
smaller charities would not be able to provide for their partners. It is no wonder so
many people give time, resources, and money to Food Bank of the Rockies.

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References
About Us. (2015). Retrieved 02 01, 2015, from Food Bank of the Rockies:
http://www.foodbankrockies.org/about-us/about-the-food-bank/
Annual Report. (2014). Retrieved 2015, from Food Bank of the Rockies:
http://www.foodbankrockies.org/wp-content/uploads/2014-Annual-Report.pdf
Annual Report. (2014). Retrieved 2015, from Food Bank of the Rockies:
http://www.foodbankrockies.org/wp-content/uploads/2014-Annual-Report.pdf
Annual Report. (2014). Retrieved 2015, from Food Bank of the Rockies:
http://www.foodbankrockies.org/wp-content/uploads/2014-Annual-Report.pdf
Annual Report. (2014). Retrieved 2015, from Food Bank of the Rockies:
http://www.foodbankrockies.org/wp-content/uploads/2014-Annual-Report.pdf
Annual Report. (2014). Retrieved 2015, from Food Bank of the Rockies:
http://www.foodbankrockies.org/wp-content/uploads/2014-Annual-Report.pdf
Celebrity Council. (2015). Retrieved 2015, from Food Bank of the Rockies:
http://www.foodbankrockies.org/about-us/celebrity-council/
Cold Weather Care. (2015). Retrieved 02 01, 2015, from Cold Weather Care:
http://www.coldweathercare.org/#home-1
Cold Weather Care Final Report 2013-2014. (2014). Retrieved from Cold Weather Care:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0By-o2MDr1yoKTk9UckpTREVYOXM/edit
Cold Weather Care Trifold. (N.D.). Cold Weather Care Trifold.
Ed McDonald, Personal Communication. (2015, December).
Graham, L. (2015). 2014 Program Statistics. Northglenn, CO: Community of Faith.
Jim Sines, Personal Communication. (2014, July).
Kevin Skekkle, Personal Communication. (2015, January 29).
News. (2014). Retrieved 2015, from The Salvation Army:
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/news/123rd-Red-Kettle-Campaign-Raises-135-Million-
Dollars-Nationally
One Plus One. (2014). 1.
Programs. (n.d.). Retrieved from New Genesis: http://newgenesis.org/programs/
Rock bottom restaurant & brewery raises over $80,000 for local charities with fire chief ale
sales! (2002, Apr 26). Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/447474691?accountid=458
Tax law changes promote transparency in the charity sector. (2008, July 2). Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/274541437?accountid=458