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Boulder’s Caring Community: Rock Creek Church
Jan 10th
Last year, Rock Creek Church, through the leadership of Tucker Roth, organized a van pool to transport our homeless guests from our warming shelter into central Boulder.
Mr. Roth approached BOHO to see how he could help in November of 2011. When he realized that our guests had to travel several miles from East Arapahoe early on Sunday morning, when RTD service is not available, he found his niche.
Seventh Day Baptist Church, at 6710 Arapahoe, opens an emergency warming center for BOHO guests on Saturday nights. At seven A.M. every Sunday morning, most of our guests head into central Boulder to take refuge from the cold in public buildings. A Mapquest search indicates it is almost five miles from the church to the public library – a long walk any time of day, but a tremendous trek through the cold and snow with a heavy backpack in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Through Mr. Roth’s vision and the work of church volunteers, our guests no longer face that Sunday morning ritual. A group of vans from the Rock Creek church started arriving at Seventh Day Baptist and driving into Boulder until everyone at the shelter was transported.
“They make sure nobody is left behind” said Mike Homner, a BOHO board member and volunteer at the centers. “That is their philosophy.”
This year, in addition to this transportation service, Rock Creek became an overflow site for Seventh Day Baptist Church, using it’s van pool on Saturday nights to transport guests to their location in Louisville. They then transport them back on Sunday morning and maintain their trips into central Boulder for all who need it.
Through a flotilla of volunteers, burritos, coffee, hot chocolate and granola bars are served to our guests in the morning before they face the next twelve hours of cold weather without the protection of a home.
“Tucker Roth is one of the most caring persons I have ever met.” Homer said.
Rock Creek Church is located at 225 Majestic View Drive, Louisville, CO,
From BOHO Buzz
Demand for Shelter Soars in Boulder
Jan 10th
As of January 8, BOHO has provided safe, warm, legal sleeping to almost 5,500 guests on 57 nights of operation, an average of almost 97 guests per night. As of the same date a year ago, BOHO’s Emergency Warming Centers (EWC) had provided shelter from severe and stormy weather to fewer than 5,000 guests on 67 nights of operation, for an average of 75 guests per night.
Although our Fall weather was mild at times this year, we have had an unbroken sequence of severely cold and even stormy nights for over a month. BOHO’s EWC guests, homeless residents of Boulder, would not have had safe, warm and legal sleeping, as the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless has operated at or near capacity so far this season.
As we look ahead, we expect to provide EWCs virtually every night for another nine or ten weeks of harsh Winter weather. We have honed and polished our practices, and built up our reserves, trained our volunteers, and worked with the many congregations who provide facilities and support. We’ll still need your help as this time goes forward, providing a shelter safety net for the safety net to Boulder’s homeless residents.
Your support and donations have provided safe, warm and legal sleeping to BOHO’s EWC guests. There are more guests being served every night this year; the needs of the poor are increasing. Thank you for helping us to provide the fundamental human need of a safe, warm shelter for sleeping.
From BOHO BUZZ
Boulder County celebrates first all-women Board of County Commissioners
Jan 9th
Boulder County, Colo. – Boulder County Commissioners Deb Gardner and Elise Jones were sworn into office today by 20th Judicial District Chief Judge Roxanne Bailin. Both commissioners, elected to four-year terms in November 2012, will serve their present terms until Jan. 10, 2017. Deb Gardner has been serving as County Commissioner for District 2 for the past year, as she was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Board in early 2012.
The swearing in of Elise Jones this morning as the District 1 County Commissioner marks the first time Boulder County has seated three women commissioners at the same time. While there is at least one other example of an all-female Board of County Commissioners in the State of Colorado, having three women serve on the Boulder County’s Board marks a historic event for our 151-year old county.
After taking her oath of office, Commissioner Elise Jones thanked the voters, her family and campaign team – many members of whom filled the room – and all of the people along the way who helped her during her 18-month run for office.
Boulder County’s historic commissioners. L-R, Elise Jones, Cindy Domenico, & Deb Gardner
“What an incredible honor it is to represent and support Boulder County in a position that Commissioner Toor just deemed the best job in the world,” said Elise Jones. “We’re blessed to live in such a remarkable place, and I look forward to taking part in tackling the challenges that lie before us and continuing the hard work of our present and past county commissioners.”
Jones went on to acknowledge the county’s historic role in being both leader and pioneer in tackling a host of pressing issues that will continue to demand attention in the coming years. Some examples of the challenges she named include fracking, climate change, transit improvements, achievement gap, poverty, and ensuring healthy and sustainable food production on county open space lands.
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“The county is fortunate to have such a highly skilled and talented staff to address these issues thoughtfully and strategically in the best interest of the community we represent,” said Jones. “I want everyone to know that I have an open door policy and want to hear from residents about what’s important to all of you going forward.”
Following an uplifting presentation by outgoing Commissioner Will Toor who captured in a series of inspiring words and photos the many successes and challenges of the past eight years of his service to Boulder County, the two sitting commissioners Cindy Domenico and Deb Gardner recapped the county’s past year’s highlights and events in a 30-minute State of the County address.
A luncheon was held following the swearing in session to honor all past women county commissioners. Able to attend in-person were former County Commissioners Maggie Markey (1974-1981), Josie Heath (1982-1990) and Jana Mendez (1995-2002). Linda Jourgensen (who served for one year in 1990) joined the women by phone.
The swearing in ceremony and both presentations will be available on the county’s website by the end of today at: http://www.bouldercounty.org/gov/meetings/pages/hearings.aspx.
As part of the annual County Reorganization meeting, Cindy Domenico was re-named Chair of the Board, and Deb Gardner will take over the role of Vice-Chair from outgoing Commissioner Will Toor, who was term-limited after serving two consecutive terms. The Chair and Vice-Chair appointments stay in place for one year.
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