FEDS GIVE BACK

Community outreach is a priority at the CFEB!  It is a privilege to connect federal agencies and employees with our local communities and this web page gives us the opportunity to celebrate and thank our volunteers.  A common thread among these community oriented federal employees is their humbleness about their achievements and enthusiasm for their organizations.

Our projects include:

• Adopt a Pet / Save a Life! | Adoptable pets are featured weekly on our home page & in our announcements
• Reading Partners | Book Drive & Recruiting Tutors
• Feds Feed Families | Food Drive
• Make a Difference Day | Annual volunteer day
• National Arts Foundation | Annual arts competition for employees
• Supporting Blood Drives and the Combined Federal Campaign
• United We Serve Awards | Recognition for volunteer and community service by government employees throughout Colorado (see our United We Serve page for more information)

READING PARTNERS | TUTORS

http://info.readingpartners.org/volunteer-in-colorado |  volunteer@readingpartners.org

Reading Partners (RP) is a national education nonprofit dedicated to improving students’ reading skills. They work in Title I elementary schools to support students from low-income communities who are reading 6 months to 2.5 years below grade-level.  RP recruits and trains community volunteers to work one-on-one with students following a structured, research-based curriculum.

Do you have one hour a week to make a difference in a child’s life?  Volunteer as a literacy tutor with Reading Partners to inspire struggling young readers in grades K-3.  The CFEB is continuing its collaboration with Reading Partners to further President Obama’s education initiatives and give children the reading skills they need to succeed in school and life.

“If we want America to lead in the 21st century, nothing is more important than giving everyone the best education possible – from the day they start preschool to the day they start their career.”
~President Barack Obama

Volunteers provide one-on-one support and mentoring and are paired with the same student for one weekly 45-minute tutoring session & one semester.  No previous experience is necessary!  Tutors are provided a structured, easy-to-follow curriculum to work with, and a staff Site Coordinator is present at all times for ongoing support and guidance.

Reading Partners currently works with 12 schools in the Denver area and needs volunteer tutors Monday – Thursday, between 8:00 am – 4:00 pm (hours may vary slightly at different schools).

Be sure to mention the CFEB so we can track the number of federal employees that volunteer.

FEDS FEED FAMILIES

First Lady Michele Obama started Feds Feed Families in the summer of 2009 to help food banks struggling to meet the needs of communities across the nation.  The summer food drive has grown into a collaborative partnership between the Office of Personnel Management, Department of Defense, and Department of Agriculture.

One of the greatest needs throughout the state at this time is providing food for hungry children and families.  Since one in seven Coloradans are struggling with hunger, the CFEB has established a virtual food drive through the Food Bank of the Rockies, where federal employees can make online donations anytime during the year.  We will report on the status of donations on this web page.

Food Bank of the Rockies (FBR) Quick Facts:

• Every dollar donated provides five (5) pounds of food or four (4) meals!
• FBR serves nearly 800 agencies who facilitate more than 1,100 hunger relief programs in the Denver Metro area,
• Northern Colorado, the Western Slope, and Wyoming
• Last year FBR distributed more than 35.7 million pounds of food – providing 76,000 meals every day for hungry children, seniors, families, and individuals.

BONFILS BLOOD DONATIONS

BONFILS DENVER FEDERAL CENTER BLOOD DRIVE

2nd Thursday of each month | 8:00 am – 1:30 pm

Denver Federal Center | Bldg 67
Hungry Horse Room

CONTACT | Betty Palcsak | 303 236-6905
bpalcsak@usgs.gov

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT
www.bonfils.org (site code is 2015) | 303 363 2300

Betty Palsak, USGS, has coordinated the Bonfils Blood Drives on the Denver Federal Center since 2002.  She is particularly excited to report helping over 1,500 people this year and thank the team of employees that help make the blood drives a success.

Blood drives are scheduled each fall for the upcoming year.  If you would like to host a blood drive, all Bonfils needs from you is a commitment to assist in creating an effective and efficient program with high donor participation. Bonfils Community Donor Representatives will supply you with logistical support, promotional materials and communication strategies to help ensure success.

Bonfils hosts up to 10 mobile blood drives each day throughout Colorado. Last year they conducted more than 2,400 mobile blood drives hosted by more than 1,000 business, civic groups and faith-based organizations.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact Bonfils’ Appointment Center at
303 363 2300 or 800 365 0006
http://www.bonfils.org/  (use Site Code 2015)

MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY

On October 24, 2015, 116 federal employees in Colorado were part of a nationwide event to help charitable organizations throughout America.  These employees helped at eleven nonprofits last Saturday to muck horse stalls, clean, paint, build homes, organize donations, weave plastic mats for homeless veterans, welcome WWII Vets back from an Honor Flight to Washington DC, and much more!

Many of these feds did these projects with their family members to truly make it a family day of giving back to the communities in which they live.  This is the first year the CFEB sponsored this event and we are already looking forward to next year with a goal of doubling the number of volunteers.