You're Invited to ECM Fun Day on Sun Aug 9

I hope you can come out for some fun at the park and celebrate service in our city! ECM volunteers are the foundation of all that Extreme Community Makeover is doing in Denver. Every person who serves with ECM is a stepping stone to a brighter future for our neighborhoods. It doesn't matter when you've volunteered or how, what matters is that you did... and if for some reason you haven't had the opportunity to volunteer, please come meet some great people and find out how you can. August 9th is all about celebrating what we are able to do together to serve our city. So please join me for a BBQ, invite your friends, bring your family, and get ready to have some fun. See you there! ECM Fun Day, Sunday August 9th from 4:30-6:30 pm Barnum Park: 360 Hooker Street, Denver, 80219 Sincerely, Angela Bomgaars RSVP

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Your Neighbors and Nextdoor

Nextdoor is a great way to bring neighbors together. It's a free online site that connects you to your neighbors. Depending on the interest of the neighborhood, the topics of each neighborhood will vary. Members have successfully used the site to find a local service provider, find their lost pet, to borrow tools, prevent crime and discover fun local events and more. To join the site, you must verify your address. The verification process helps to prevent non-residents from bombarding the group with spam and such.

Here at Extreme Community Makeover, we encourage people to connect with their neighbors to build stronger, safer, more tight-knit communities. Of course, there is always the good old-fashioned way to connect by simply knocking on your neighbor's door to introduce yourself. And, fortunately, sites like Nextdoor are also available to help neighbors connect using social media.

7.25.15 ECM Work Day - Globeville Neighborhood

Restoration Community Church

Individuals

Summary of 7.25.15 ECM Work Day:

• Volunteers Participated - 75
• Projects Completed - 10
• Volunteer Hours - 375

Recycling Paint

Recycling Paint is Now Easy and Free with the Launch of Colorado’s New PaintCare Program

Starting July 1, 2015, it will be more convenient than ever to recycle paint in Colorado. Residents and businesses in Colorado will be able to takeunwanted, leftover paint for recycling to participating paint retailers (paint, hardware, and home improvement stores) that have volunteered to take back paint. There will be no charge for dropping off paint at any PaintCare drop-off site.

To find the nearest drop-off site, use PaintCare’s online search tool at paintcare.org or call the PaintCare hotline at   1-855-724-6809

For information on what materials are accepted in the PaintCare program and policies on bringing in your paint to a drop-off site, visitpaintcare.org/paintcare-states/colorado/ or download the copy of theColorado PaintCare Program brochure.

7.11.15 ECM Work Day - Westwood Neighborhood

Westwood Unidos & Individuals

Summary of 7.11.15 ECM Work Day:

• Volunteers Participated - 25
• Alleys Improved - 1
• Volunteer Hours - 125

Cooperation, Connection, Volunteering

It was a hot one as volunteers worked side by side with residents in the Elyria and Swansea neighborhoods. Not one complaint was heard as all took on their tasks with pride and care.  The theme this day was about cooperation, connection, and volunteerism not only amongst volunteers within ECM, but also amongst the residents. 

The energy on this block was definitely buzzing, not just because of the chainsaw that DCC (Denver Community Church) volunteer Chris was yielding, but also the buzzing energy one feels when they connect with another being; very evident as Chris, nicknamed “tree man” (by me), walked from home to home trimming trees in the neighborhood. He worked alongside residents to salvage trees (thought dead), but really just needed some TLC.  As sawdust rained over us from the tree trimming, resident Vicky stood with volunteers and shared stories about her life, and how she believes life is a miracle as Vicky suggested was evident when ECM showed up at her door to offer help…just when she needed it.

I learned that resident Cory and his roommates were AmeriCorps volunteers.  It was so refreshing to see young adults giving back to their community. Fellow roommate Laura works with the I Have a Dream foundation. I Have a Dream works with disadvantaged youth, and Laura mentors these teens.  She mentioned that she and her group of teens have signed up to work with ECM. Now that is volunteerism coming full circle!

The AmeriCorps volunteers weren’t the only young adults with big hearts and a willingness to give back to their communities – we also saw this winning attitude in Ana.  Ana lives with her parents and brother and acts as interpreter for her Spanish speaking parents.  Ana not only impressed me with her personality and kind demeanor, but she also found favor amongst the DCC volunteers.  Ana suggested we check to see if her elderly neighbor needed help.  Ana said she had recently taken her neighbor to the hospital when she fell and injured her hip.  Ana shared that she wanted to become an EMT (emergency medical technician), and that she would also like to do some volunteer work, as well.  I referred her to ECM and also told her to talk to her fellow neighbor Cory - working with AmeriCorps.

Once again, I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside people with positive attitudes and who want to make a difference in the world through cooperation, connection, and giving.  Thank you to Denver Community Church, Fehr & Peers, Pinnacle National Honor Society, and the individual volunteers for their help, and to our residents in Elyria Swansea neighborhood for sharing their stories.

With Gratitude,

-Lisa, ECM Communications Team

July Extreme Endeavors: What Have You Been Doing This Summer?

The month of June is always one of the busiest months of the year for Extreme Community Makeover.  Here's a snapshot of what this past month looked like for ECM:    - 14 Work Days scheduled    - 41 alleys cleaned    - 102 projects completed    - 1,080 volunteers participated    - Lots of neighbors helping neighbors Check out what a few of the residents we assisted and volunteers who participated had to share about their experience during a recent Work Day in the Westwood neighborhood. Sincerely, Angela Bomgaars 6.17.15 ECM Work Day - Westwood Neighborhood ECM Work Days ECM Work Days are in full swing.  If you want to join an upcoming Work Day as an individual, click here to register.  If you want to get a group involved for a future Work Day, click here for the calendar of dates and then click here to register.  Here are the dates scheduled for this month.   Saturday, July 11 - 9:00 am (Westwood Neighborhood)   3300 West Nevada Place, Denver, 80219 - Redeemer Lutheran Church   Saturday, July 25 - 9:00 am (Globeville Neighborhood)   4496 Grant Street, Denver, 80216 - Globeville Recreation Center Denver Days Denver Days is an initiative Mayor Michael B. Hancock created in 2013 to help neighbors get to know neighbors and get involved with their communities. The simple and amiable concept and message behind Denver Days quickly caught on with Denver residents and this August 1st -9th marks Denver Days third year. Knowing your neighbors creates a stronger community. Organizing events such as block parties, social events and service projects and interacting with those who live closest to you helps to build a sense of belonging and camaraderie that will foster a happier, healthier and safer place to live.  Participating in Denver Days is a great opportunity to connect and have fun! For more information or to register, please visit www.denvergov.org/denverdays. If you have any questions please email denverdays@denvergov.org.

Volunteer Appreciation BBQ June Volunteers Thank you to the 1,000+ volunteers who participated in ECM projects during the past month! CityConnexx Denver Community Church Fehr & Peers Heritage Title Company Hillside Church Jubilee Fellowship Church Lakewood United Methodist Church Youth LIV Sotheby's International Realty Momentum Student Ministries Old Hickory Church of the Nazarene Students Pinnacle National Honor Society PorchLight Real Estate Red Rocks Youth St. Matthew's Lutheran Church Summit of Peace Lutheran Church United Natural Foods Inc. Youthworks ECM App Facebook Twitter YouTube Copyright © 2015 Extreme Community Makeover, All rights reserved.