By Scot Kersgaard, JVA Consulting

JVA funding research maestro Dee Gourd prefers to fly under the radar when it comes to her charitable work. Her story, though, is inspirational precisely because it is the kind of thing anyone could do.

Dee feels fortunate to live on a block in the Park Hill neighborhood that “adopts” a family or an organization that works with families each year for the holidays. One year, her block adopted the St. Paul House, a home for boys, in hopes of making the holidays extra special for the boys who live there by providing gifts, vouchers for outings and a holiday meal, which the neighbors prepared and delivered.

In 2012, her block adopted a family through the Denver Rescue Mission. Dee says most of the families on her block participate, and that the group raises about $700 to $800 each year for the cause they adopt. They divvy up the shopping and then meet for a wrapping party.

This year, she says, the block will purchase toys for the Toys for Tots toy drive. Comitis Crisis Center, a program of JVA client Mile High Behavioral Healthcare, will distribute the toys to families staying at the Center and to other nonprofits serving children. Comitis Crisis Center is an Aurora shelter that has facilities for families, youth and veterans experiencing homelessness. Comitis is also an emergency shelter open to anyone who needs it. Founded in 1969 in the basement of a church, Comitis has grown continually and today serves well over 500 people a year with housing, meals, clothing, job training, education services, and access to physical, dental and behavioral health services. In 2013 alone,Comitis provided 52,509 meals and 35,110 shelter nights to the homeless in Aurora.  Comitis has four distinct housing wings designed to meet the unique needs of the sub-populations served by Comitis: one for families with children who are TANF recipients in Arapahoe or Adams County, each with their own private room (40 rooms); one for veterans and their families with private rooms (20 rooms); one for youth and young adults (20 beds); and a fourth wing for overnight/emergency shelter (80 beds). Comitis is one of the only shelters that recognize same-sex couples as families in the state of Colorado.

Mile High Behavioral Healthcare is happy to announce the opening next week of its newest housing program: A Miracle on Logan Street—eight individual housing units for homeless women in need of safe and stable housing.

Dee says her research of funding opportunities for Comitis/Mile High is what inspired her to suggest the organization to her block for this year’s project.

What Dee and her neighbors do is simple enough, and is probably something done by countless neighborhood groups around the world. It not only accomplishes the obvious good of providing a boost for a local family or a nonprofit, but also brings neighbors together for a good cause, which has the added benefit of creating community.