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Broomfield's Spirit of Community Reflected in Efforts of Broomfield VOAD
By Kristen Beckman
In a challenging year like 2020, there are numerous stories of hope and resilience. Despite the immense economic challenges presented by shutdowns, a small business owner in Broomfield received a grant that helped his company stay afloat. A victim of domestic violence found safety in a hotel rather than sheltering with her abuser. Students who have experienced unprecedented disruption to their education and social lives have found ways to persevere. A doctor who has seen the worst impacts of COVID-19 also helped to bring hope to patients.
The Broomfield Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) highlighted some of these stories during its Back to Standing virtual presentation November 20, which included personal accounts, songs, and an address by the mayor.
“Different sectors of the population were invited to talk about how COVID has impacted them and the good that they saw,” said Karen Steele, chairwoman of Broomfield VOAD. “We hoped it would be uplifting. Everyone’s feeling the same fatigue. Everyone was telling their story and that we’re all in the same boat.”
Broomfield VOAD itself has been a beacon of hope in Broomfield during 2020 and in the past. The voluntary organization was created after 9/11 to respond to localized emergencies - primarily providing food to stranded or displaced people during weather events or fires. Broomfield FISH, A Precious Child, and the Broomfield Community Foundation were instrumental early participants in VOAD, which then expanded in 2013 to a more formalized structure equipped to plan for and handle a variety of disasters and crises, both with resources and volunteers.
VOAD had already begun to strategize about how it could respond to a pandemic when COVID-19 hit, said Steele. The organization was able to ramp up quickly to respond to community needs, including recruiting and organizing volunteers to help at COVID testing sites as well as to fill in at FISH and A Precious Child when their normal volunteers were sidelined.
The Broomfield Community Foundation was able to raise more than $100,000 from community donations through an emergency fund that was distributed to nonprofits throughout the community in partnership with VOAD. For instance, because of the virus, Broomfield FISH could no longer accept food donations from the public. Using emergency fund donations, VOAD was able to purchase pallets of food to keep supplies available for vulnerable members of the community. Funds were also used to buy commercial-grade cleaning spray that VOAD volunteers used to fill 10,000 bottles that were sent to schools, nonprofits, and families in the community.
VOAD also has assisted with Code Blue Warming Centers throughout the community, which are designed to provide shelter to unhoused people during cold weather. During COVID shutdowns, VOAD and its partner organizations were able to secure hotel vouchers for a dozen families who didn’t have a safe place to shelter during lockdowns, and volunteers assembled concierge bags for the unhoused that included essentials like a hat, socks, snacks, and water.
Steele said Broomfield VOAD and the community of Broomfield itself are unique in that there is tremendous support for initiatives that help people, especially during crises. Whereas other communities might experience multiple charitable and response organizations competing with one another for resources and recognition, Broomfield’s organizations display a spirit of cooperation, collaboration, and selflessness, she said.
“Broomfield is a great community,” said Steele. “Everybody pitches in and takes care of one another. It’s such a gift.”
