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Parker Chronicle 9
December 13, 2013
Struggle Continued from Page 1
he left, and left the kids with her. She has $85 left for bills after she pays the rent. But today, she just needs food. Fourth family: A Castle Rock woman, who works as a server, and boyfriend, who works, and three children. They make a total of $1,700 a month. They need food and Christmas assistance. The task force has a family adoption program for the holidays, and has such things as toys for gifts and gift cards so the family can have a special meal. But Follmer said their Christmas assistance is limited. They can’t offer it to everyone. Fifth family: An out-of-state couple — who left everything including their jobs to come to Colorado after their daughter was in a serious accident — is now living in a hotel. They have temporary jobs, but can’t make enough to save enough for first month’s rent and deposit. Today, they need food. Sixth family: A Castle Rock family, grandmother in her 70s, grown daughter and three granddaughters. The daughter works, but the rent is more than half her income. They come in today for clothing, food and Christmas assistance. Seventh family: A Castle Rock moth-
ers in 50s with two teens. Because of serious health problems, she lost her job. The older teen had a job, but lost it. There’s no income at all right now. Today they need food and Follmer tries to find resources for rent assistance. Eighth family: A Castle Rock mother, a renter, with three kids, living on disability and food stamps, had been awarded significant child support, but hadn’t been receiving it. She needs help with food, utilities and Christmas assistance. Ninth family: An Elbert County family, renters, three kids and husband and wife. Husband is facing several surgeries to correct past surgery. He’s in extreme pain, but works off some rent for landlord. Wife is working. They need help with food and Christmas assistance. Tenth family: A Castle Rock family, renters. Wife, husband and one teenager. Husband is working. She broke a bone and currently can’t work. They come in for food. “All of these people are just scraping by,” Follmer said. Eleventh family: A Castle Rock family, long-term task force clients. Four adults, five kids, extended family. Two of the adults are working, and one has seasonal work. They come in for food and Christmas assistance. Twelfth family: A Parker grandmother, raising her grandchild after daughter passed away. She’s living on Social Security and disability. She comes in for food
and has a disconnect notice, so she needs help with utilities, and gets Christmas assistance. Thirteenth family: A Castle Rock homeowner, never been in before. Recently divorced and lost job when company closed down. Husband hadn’t been paying bills he said he’d pay. At this point, she just needs utilities assistance. She filed for unemployment in October but still hasn’t received any money. She’s been interviewing for jobs and was particularly excited about a recent interview. Fourteenth family: A Castle Rock couple and one child, renters, come in for food and Christmas assistance. “When more than half of their incomes goes toward rent … the money is eaten up pretty quickly,” Follmer said. Fifteenth family: A Castle Rock woman on disability, a renter. She’d like to work an hour or two a day, but Follmer shakes her head about that possibility. The woman is on oxygen 24 hours a day. She comes in for food. Sixteenth family: A Castle Rock man in early 20s, homeless. He couch-surfs; sometimes he’s out in the elements by Plum Creek or other places. Douglas County doesn’t have transitional housing or a shelter. He comes in every few months. This time he comes for food and clothing. He’s doing temp work and trying to get stable housing. But the task force gives a one-time $250 to help with first month’s rent and deposit. Follmer doesn’t want him to waste that if he’s not at the point where
he can financially keep a place. Seventeenth family: A Castle Rock couple and one teenager, renters, both work. But rent is more than half of their income. They make too much for food stamps. They come in for food. Eighteenth family: A Castle Rock couple and baby, renters. He works. She’s home with the baby. They come in every couple of months. Today they need food and some Christmas assistance. Nineteenth family: A Castle Rock man, 50s, just released from jail, the Douglas County Justice Center. Follmer said the jail releases people with nothing, no money, no transportation, so released inmates generally walk the couple miles to the task force to get help. This man got a ride from a local mental health agency. From Follmer, he gets some food and a couple days lodging at a motel. From there, he’s trying to get his job back, and reaching out to friends. Whatever family he has is estranged. Twentieth family: A Parker couple and one child live in a motor home on a relative’s property. They both work, but jobs are dependent on weather conditions. They come in for food. That was Nov. 26 at the task force. But that’s every day at the task force, Follmer said. And when she walks into her own home, she counts her blessings. To learn more about the task force, go to http://www.detaskforce.org/about/.
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Happy Holidays!
Douglas County offices will be closed on Wed., Dec. 25, in observance of Christmas, however many county services are available online at www.douglas.co.us Offices will re-open on Thurs., Dec. 26.
The Rowan Tree Foundation Angel Memorial and Healing Garden, along the Cherry Creek trail near South Parker Road and Indian Pipe Lane, is a gathering place for those grieving the loss of a child. The foundation is based in Parker. Courtesy photo
Parents Continued from Page 1
That was when she created the Rowan Tree Foundation, a Parker-based nonprofit that provides a platform of support for parents who have lost a child. Aside from outreach services that guide surviving loved ones through the stages of grief, the foundation sends out personalized remembrance notes. Each one is sent as a show of support during the month the parents lost their child. More than 500 were mailed this year, and they read: “We hope you find some comfort in knowing you are not alone. We are remembering with you.”
Foundation offers shared experiences Perhaps most uplifting are the organization’s two signature annual events: a butterfly release in June and candlelight vigil in December. Both are well-attended and take place at the Rowan Tree Foundation Angel Memorial and Healing Garden, along the Cherry Creek trail just west of McCabe Meadows Park at South Parker Road and Indian Pipe Lane. The land was donated to the nonprofit two years ago by the Town of Parker. The butterfly release is an emotional experience, but one that is intended to
help heal. “We order monarch butterflies that are packaged individually and I read all of the children’s names, and at the end of the program, everyone opens their box and releases the butterflies into a field,” said O’Flynn, who serves as the foundation’s executive director. “A lot of people are crying at the beginning, but once they’re released, everybody is smiling.” The shared experience is what is so valuable to O’Flynn. After all, it was bonding with others through grief that was the catalyst for the Rowan Tree Foundation. O’Flynn’s daughter was named Rowan, a Gaelic word meaning “little red one,” but later she discovered it is also a type of tree known to signify “strength against adversity and rebirth.” “It also represents connection, which was perfect for our mission,” said O’Flynn, who is helped by four volunteers. After a child passes away, local hospitals give packets to grieving parents and let them decide whether to seek support. Whether it’s one day after a loss, one month later, or even 40 years later, as was the case with one woman, the Rowan Tree Foundation is there to help, free of charge. For more information, call 720-5888693 or send an email to staff@rowantreefoundation.org. The foundation also has a website, www.rowantreefoundation.org, and a Facebook page.
Leaving Home for the Holidays?
Holiday gifts for pet lovers
Sign up for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office House Watch program online. This online application will notify the Sheriff’s Office of a home that will be unoccupied for a short duration. After submittal of the registration, the house watch will begin for the dates specified. To register for the House Watch program please visit https://apps.douglas. co.us/apps/housewatchpublic/ welcome.do
The Dumb Friends League has holiday gifts for every pet and pet lover on your list at the pet supply shop. Proceeds from every purchase benefit the homeless pets in the care of the Dumb Friends League. For more information, visit ddfl.org or visit the Buddy Center in Castle Rock .
2014 Philip S. Miller Grant applications due January 31 Douglas County is accepting grant applications through January 31, 2014 for 2014 Philip S. Miller funds. To qualify for a grant an applicant must be a 501(c)3 or 501(c)4 tax-exempt organization; serve residents of Douglas County; and provide a service that supports health and human services for at risk and underserved populations. For more information visit www. douglas.co.us/countyadmin/ miller-grant/ or contact Dru Campbell at 303.660.7401.
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Christmas Tree Recycling
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For drop-off locations, times & dates, as well as instructions on how to prepare a tree for recycling, visit www.douglas.co.us/ parksandtrails/christmastree-recycling-locations/
Winter Readiness Begins Now Please visit www.douglas.co.us/ publicworks/snow-and-iceremoval/ as a reference quide to frequently asked questions about snow and ice removal in Douglas County.
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