Partner Profile:  Denver Indian Family Resource Center


WeeCycle was honored to be invited to the Denver Indian Family Resource Center

(DIFRC) Annual meeting to witness first hand the great strides they have made in

2012 to continue to assist the needs of Colorado Indian families. DIFRC provides

support and programs for Indian family preservation, reunification, child welfare,

advocacy, healthy living programs and behavioral health programs. DIFRC has

provided intensive child welfare services to thousands of children and reunited

hundreds of children in the foster care system, with their families again since its

beginning.

Over an amazing dinner of posole made by their healthy living class, we were

entertained by the youth group dancers. These children meet weekly to learn the

dances of their elders at DIFRC and slowly make their own costumes over several

years due to the great expense of their beauty and detail.

DIFRC programs meet the needs of Indian families to create strong family bonds,

live healthy lives by eating nutritionally and exercising. They also help in crisis;

helping families gain the parenting skills and receive the mental health services

they need to become strong parenting role models which can result in the families

being reunited with their children. The reality is that many children have never had

a positive parent role model in their life due to drug or alcohol abuse. DIFRC teaches

the much needed parenting skills that many Indian parents need.

Partner Agency Highlight: Florence Crittenton High School

Think back to your high school years. Perhaps you are reminded of your insecurities and the new challenges you would be facing.  Would you fit in with your new peers? Would you have the right brand name clothing, shoes and book bag? These are all fairly common high school fears.

Now imagine being pregnant. Your family is one of many that are below the poverty line. You are no longer included in your circle of friends because your life has taken a serious turn. Your teachers don’t understand why you have missed school or have been ill lately. Attending the Friday night football game and dance seem very trivial to you.

You need serious support, help and resources. You need a school that understands you, and the current and future needs of your baby. You need a school that supports your goal of becoming the well-educated mother who can provide for her child in the future.

On our recent tour of the Florence Crittenton High School in southwest Denver, a WeeCycle partner, we found just that school for Denver’s teen mothers. With a blend of high school teachers, mental health and nursing professionals, and daycare providers, Florence Crittenton helps teen mothers stay in school and graduate, give birth to healthy babies, learn how to be nurturing mothers, pursue post-secondary education and acquire marketable job skills. 

WeeCycle provides baby gear essential to a safe environment for a new baby. Teen mothers are shocked when they receive a car seat, crib, and stroller from us because they know how costly these items are. A stroller is essential for many young mothers taking the city bus to and from school, sometimes with three bus changes. Our goal is to make this stressful time in these young mothers lives a little bit easier. FC is yet another partner of WeeCycle that is making a real impact to those in need in the Denver metro area!

Here's How You Can Help Flood Victims

Help Colorado Flood Victims!  WeeCycle is hosting a diaper drive to benefit the victims of the recent Colorado floods.  We are partnering with A Precious Child to collect and distribute diapers directly to Longmont and Boulder families who were affected by the flooding.  Please help by donating a box of diapers to your local WeeCycle drop-off location today!  For a list of your nearest drop-off locations click here.

The Other Side

We can get so caught up in our daily jobs and our long list of to-dos that it's easy to forget there's another side to our community.  People for whom life is not only busy and stressful, but truly a daily struggle.

As you may know, WeeCycle works by partnering with community organizations who serve the impoverished members of our community.   They call us needing baby gear, car seats, diapers, etc., and we provide it--that simple.  One of our partner organizations, The African Community Center, helps people displaced from their countries by war.  All of these photos were provided by ACC and taken just last week in Denver.

They leave their families and homeland to come live amongst us here on the Front Range.  Many come here with very little and must start their lives over from scratch.

We are fortunate that we can provide assistance in the small but vital form of a stroller, high chair or toy.  It is our privilege.  

Come on out to The Steller Group of Keller Williams Realty's Fall Festival

This year, The Steller Group of Keller Williams Realty will be partnering with WeeCycle at its Third Annual FREE Fall Festival. Please join us on Sunday, September 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cherry Knolls Park in Centennial for entertainment and lunch. The Steller Group offers the festival as a client appreciation party and is encouraging voluntary monetary donations to WeeCycle at the event. Guests may enjoy children’s train rides, crafts, field games, freshly popped kettle corn, jumping castles, face painting, balloon sculptures, caricatures, pumpkins, lunch, beer and more! The event is free, but RSVPs are requested in order to help plan quantities. To register, please call 303.539.5228 or email Info@StellerRealEstate.com.

WeeCycle is Seeking Volunteers!

Do you have a few hours of your time and would you enjoy helping WeeCycle with events? We are seeking volunteers to help with street fairs, assist with our annual Blues, Brews, & BBQ, host gear drives and more! WeeCycle would love to have your support! Emailinfo@weecycle.org for more information. WeeCycle is still looking for a handful of volunteers for the afternoon of Sunday, September 15 to help run games and to help spread the word about our nonprofit! Would you consider donating 3 hours of your time (1pm-4pm) to help us with this event? Please email info@weecycle.org if you are interested in volunteering.

Trattoria Stella Night Out to Benefit WeeCycle

On Sunday, September 22nd, from 5pm to 11pm, Trattoria Stella on Colfax (3201 East Colfax Avenue, Denver CO 80206) will be donating 10% of ALL sales from ALL customers to WeeCycle. Reservations are welcome but not required and large parties can be accommodated! Roll in fall with a great meal out for a great cause! If you haven't been there yet, you are in for a treat, try some of their homemade pastas, seafood, pizzas, salads and more!

WeeCycle has a New Drop-off Location in Littleton at Sweet Beginnings

WeeCycle has a new drop off location in Littleton. Sweet Beginnings is located at: 5661 S. Curtice Street, Historic Downtown Littleton, CO 80120. Please drop off any new or gently used baby gear to be donated to WeeCycle! The current high demand items that WeeCycle is particularly in need of include: strollers, double strollers, car seats, and cribs manufactured after June 2011. A great big thank you to Sweet Beginnings for opening up their doors to collect baby gear for WeeCycle!

Help Us Help Kids

Did you know that according to Kids Count Colorado, our state has the second fastest growing rate of child poverty in the nation? 

WeeCycle helps children in poverty by providing parents with baby gear and diapers--essentials they would struggle to afford otherwise.

Want some good news?  You can help by going out to dinner.

On Sunday, September 22nd, Trattoria Stella on Colfax will be donating 10% of all of the evening's proceeds to WeeCycle. If you don't know this fabulous local restaurant, they serve pizzas, home-made pastas, and a delicious lasagna of the day.

Don't cook. Bring your kids. Come out to eat with the WeeCycle team.  Help children in poverty in Denver.  Let's see, I believe that's a win, win, win, win.

See you there!

Come Volunteer with WeeCycle!

On Sunday, September 15 the Steller Group is hosting a super fun, family friendly fall festival at University Blvd and Arapahoe. The best news: Steller's chosen WeeCycle to benefit from the event!

The festival is free for everyone and will feature games, face painting, bouncy houses, and more!

We need WeeCycle volunteers present to help run games and to help spread the word about our nonprofit.  

Would you consider donating 3 hours of your time to help us with this event?   We're even giving our volunteers a super awesome new WeeCycle t-shirt!  

There are two shifts available; 10:00-1:00, and 1:00-4:00.  We are very much in need of volunteers for the later shift, and appreciate any help our supporters can give! Please email info@weecycle.org if you are interested in volunteering.  We hope to see you there!

Welcome to Our New Blog!

Now there's a place to catch up on all of WeeCycle's goings on as we continue to grow and expand our work providing new and gently used baby gear free of charge to families in the Denver metro area.

We'll keep you apprised of the families we serve, upcoming events and drives, as well as simple opportunities for you to make a direct difference in a child's life.  

There's lots more to come, so go ahead and subscribe.  You won't want to miss a thing!