You were there to help
A letter from our Executive Director, Giselle Diaz Campanga
If you are like me, the holiday season inspires you to reflect on the successes and lessons of the past year. As with most organizations, this year was particularly challenging for us. That is why I am so proud to share this uplifting update about our team’s work and the impact we are having on our community, thanks to your support.
When I joined The GrowHaus four months ago as the Executive Director, I was immediately struck by the passion and commitment of our team. I learned that shortly before the pandemic and after a decade of amazing memories, the team had to make the incredibly hard decision to close our beloved building, due to structural issues.
Despite suffering such a traumatic loss, our team of bonafide heroes immediately pivoted their work to respond to our community’s urgent need for food. Everyone began packing and distributing healthy, fresh food to ensure our neighbors were well nourished during these uncertain times. None of this heroic work would have been possible without your help.
The team shared with me stories about how the community was impacted by the pandemic. Many talked about how food insecurity and inequity were exacerbated.
I was stunned and heartbroken to learn that a child born in Globeville is expected to live 11 years less than a child born in West Washington Park, just a few miles away from this beloved neighborhood.
Fabiola, one of our lead food packers, often recounts how she looks into each packed box, imagining what she would cook with it for her own family. She tells me that, for many families in Globeville and Elyria-Swansea (GES), this is their only source of fresh produce for the week, so sometimes she adds extra fruits and veggies, for good measure. That strong personal connection to the families we support runs deep within The GrowHaus culture - they are our family and we care about their children as if they were our own.
You were there to help...Since the pandemic, our team has distributed over 35,000 no-cost food boxes, the equivalent of 800,000 meals, reaching 665 families.
We are committed to continue providing this immediate hunger relief, as well as long-term sustainable access to healthy food. Together, we are supporting families as they transition from our no-cost food program, to a discounted sustainable food access solution, where residents can pay 40 percent or less of the market value for a customizable food box.
As a strong supporter of The GrowHaus, you share the belief that food is an entry point for families to more deeply engage in wellness and community connection programs. This past summer, The GrowHaus had 70 families participating in our summer program for children and their caregivers - double the number from previous years. You helped us accomplish this!
The work continues...The GrowHaus has spent over $1 Million purchasing food that was distributed at no cost to community members. We are continuing to spend $30,000 every month to provide access to a reliable source of fresh food every week, for nearly 500 families.
Food access is a starting point, but security, wellness and happiness are the goals. The GrowHaus is continuing to support families with our Community Outreach / Promotora program. Promotoras are members from our community who we have hired to lead health and wellness programming. While providing an invaluable service to our community, Promotoras are also building and strengthening their leadership skills. Last year, our two Promotora Apprentices, Araceli and Ynes (pictured right), graduated to full-time Promotoras. Next year, we are hiring two additional Promotora Apprentices to help us more effectively serve our community.
Finally, I am so excited to share our plans to return to our original location at 4751 York Street, as soon as we raise the capital. In the near future, residents of GES will find a home again at The GrowHaus, where they can engage with our programs and continue to gain access to food. We are working closely with our architects and the City of Denver to return to the land we love so dearly. Our community-led team will co-create the space with our neighbors and partners, to meet their needs and vision. Stay tuned for more information about this great new chapter for The GrowHaus!
While we create a new space to gather and share, we are committed to ensuring there is no gap in our programming.
Colorado Gives Day is December 7th. Will you help us reach our goal of raising $50,000, so we can continue to ensure our neighbors have the resources they need to lead a healthy lifestyle?
All donations will be matched, dollar for dollar, to double your impact!
Thank you for making a difference in our community. Your action today ensures a bright tomorrow for local food justice.
With gratitude,
Giselle Díaz Campagna
Executive Director