By Robyn DiFalco | Grants Specialist & Volunteer Coordinator
As the global pandemic continues to take a toll on both the physical and economic health of our community, VEC stands strong as a resource hub and support network for refugees and immigrants in northwest Aurora, Colorado.
Our Village Food Pantry met the demand for food assistance serving 800% more families than in pre-pandemic times. Serving over 6,700 individuals representing 40 countries of origin, VEC distributed 390,363 lbs of food and 6,403 packages of daily essentials like diapers and hygiene products. The Village Pantry makes the extra effort to source the foods requested by our various community members and directs our purchasing dollars towards vendors and local markets that provide these culturally familiar foods. Over 1,600 lbs of these unique produce items were grown by community members at our very own Village Farm. The Farm also facilitates an Earn-as-you-Learn training program, building job skills while providing a sense of community for participants.
To further economic opportunity, we partnered with Impact Charitable to develop and implement the Left Behind Workers Fund. As the payment and screening partner, we provided cash and rental assistance of over $12 million to workers who lost their jobs due to the pandemic and were ineligible for unemployment or federal CARES assistance.
Having established a foundation of trust in the neighborhood, our vaccine equity clinics are serving the most vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations, with nearly 3,000 doses to date, 92% of which were provided to BIPOC individuals.
In partnership with the Aurora Chapter of the NAACP and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, VEC launched a Fund to support small businesses owned by BIPOC individuals which were impacted by COVID. Over $100,000 is being distributed to support these businesses, but the 125 applicants far exceed the available resources. We’re actively seeking additional support to extend this program support.
VEC’s neighborhood in Northwest Aurora has been experiencing a steady increase in its refugee and immigrant population, and this trend is expected to continue. VEC anticipates serving many of the newly arriving Afghan refugees who are expected to resettle in Aurora.
Despite the ongoing challenges and uncertainty of the moment, VEC continues to pursue big plans for expanding programs and services in the coming year.
In 2020, VEC launched a capital campaign to complete the process of transforming an aging church building into a high-capacity community center and cultural hub, with funding to both expand the usable space and make much-needed technical upgrades to support increased capacity and ensure safety and security of the communities using the center. Also of great importance is the goal of creating a beautiful and welcoming space that adds value and dignity to the communities served at VEC, not only for aesthetic reasons but also in the positive experience it evokes, opening the way for people to feel engaged, included and healthy in our space. VEC maintains a vision that enhancing our built environment is integral to creating a center that truly enhances human health and wellness -- a space worthy of weddings, cultural celebrations, and raising families.
In 2021-22, VEC will begin to realize this vision with the expansion of both our physical space and our services, launching an Early Childhood Education Center and commercial kitchen. This dedicated childcare space will be an expansion of VEC’s existing facilities with an additional 1,000 square feet, expanding our educational space and providing an area for drop-in childcare as well. Offering this new service facilitates community and workforce engagement by providing reliable childcare. The capital campaign also includes buildout of a commercial kitchen and restaurant storefront to house workforce development programs including a culinary training program, create a second floor to house more program offices and community tenants and lastly, to build out a community café, terrace and lower garden terrace.
VEC’s Impact
o 390,363 lbs of food distributed
o 6,403 packages of hygiene supplies distributed
o Served over 6,700 individuals representing 40 countries of origin
o 30-40 households served weekly by mobile delivery, for individuals living with a disability
o 9 partner organizations received culturally-appropriate specialty food to serve members of their community.
o 107 Active Volunteers
o Average of 100 volunteer service hours per week
o 17 participants completed Workforce Development Training Program
o 1,600 lbs of fresh produce provided to Village Food Pantry
o 65 lbs of produce sold to local markets
o 843 bunches of greens provided to the food pantry
o 78 volunteers
o 9 Pop-Up Clinics held from February – July 2021
o 3,200 shots administered
o 65 students from 7 different countries and a dozen different schools participated in 6 weeks of summer camp in 2021
o 25 after school students during 2020-2021 school year
o 11 Natural Leaders trained/activated during 2020-2021 school year
o 29 new participants graduated in Cohort 9 in 2020.
o 30 NH volunteers active and involved
o 50 small business owners received $92,900 in mini-grants in 2020-21.
o 50 more expected to be awarded in fall 2021
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