Montrose - Daily Press

Katharhynn Heidelberg

MONTROSE - Threatening rain Saturday couldn't dampen the spirits of local volunteers at Buckley Park.

Several members of at least five nonprofits gathered early that evening for barbecue and long-overdue recognition during Applause in the Park, an appreciation dinner presented by the United Methodist Church, with the help of Harold and Yvonne Williamson of Blue Ribbon Barbecue.

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"It was a good idea, to appreciate the smaller nonprofits in our area that just don't get enough recognition," said Steve Warren, pastor at UMC. "A lot of our church members are volunteers in these organizations, so there's a little cross-pollination. There's a synergy of ideas to support the community, which has been supportive of the church."

Applause in the Park, however, wasn't a church event - it was for the men and women who staff crisis center hotlines; who help kids and adults cope with physical or cognitive difficulties; who work tirelessly to reduce Colorado's suicide rate; who give hardworking men and women a shot at home ownership; who try to save at-risk youth, or even, our four-footed friends in need. Local volunteers come from all walks of life and apply their time and energy to the tasks closest to their interest, but all are united in purpose: To leave the world a little better place, for someone, somewhere.

"I've always wanted to give my time and now I can," said Connie Stout, board president for Habitat of Humanity of Montrose County. The nonprofit helps those who meet income and credit standards, who cannot afford a home through a traditional loan, build houses. In Montrose County, Stout said Habitat builds approximately two homes per year, securing 0 percent mortgages.

"It's a wonderful opportunity. They're (homeowners) just so excited when they get into their houses," she said. "I love that we help hardworking, responsible people get into their own house."

Stout retired to Montrose in 2001 with her husband, Don, who'd already made up his mind how he'd be spending his time. "I decided before I even moved here that I would be involved with the Montrose Animal Protection Agency," he said, explaining that he'd learned of MAPA through his subscription to the Daily Press. "I'm an animal lover. It seemed like the right thing to do."

MAPA uses Colorado Pet Overpopulation Fund money to help Montrose residents pay for pet spays and neuters - keeping pet populations down in turn helps reduce the number of unwanted dogs and cats condemned to euthanasia or miserable lives as strays

Earlier in the year, MAPA's grant money for this critical service was spent, leaving the organization short, but, said Don Stout, there has been more money raised on a local level and MAPA is still in fierce competition for more grant funding.

Stout said there are 15 to 20 full-time volunteers and a list of approximately 25 reserve members who can be called upon to help with extra projects, such as fundraising.

"It's very worthwhile," he said. "You feel like you're doing a good thing."

Stout's organization does good things for animals; Bill and Kathy Hamm's does good things with animals - horses. The Olathe couple's nonprofit, Dream Catcher Therapy Center, provides therapeutic riding for disabled children and adults and equine-assisted learning, through which clients learn activities with horses that in turn allow them to process their feelings and behaviors.

"Kids open up a lot more to animals than they do to sitting in an office," Kathy Hamm said. Also: "When you're on a horse, you don't realize you're doing (physical) therapy. You use lots of muscles."

Dream Catcher volunteer Nancy Baker has noticed "remarkable improvements" in all clients since she started her work there a year ago. "I love working with horses and with children," she said. "It's very rewarding. "

Like other volunteers, Baker also appreciated the barbecue. "It's appreciated," she said. It's nice that people get recognized."

Nancy Halderman, a staff member with the Center for Mental Health who helps with its Suicide Prevention Coalition, agreed. "These people are so busy and they take time to volunteer. It's just amazing," she said. "We can't do our job without volunteers."

Her volunteers' work is in the trenches trying to reduce the area's suicide rate, which is considered the highest in the state. Colorado itself is eighth in the nation for suicides.

A "good group" of volunteers also enables Hilltop Community Resources to aid the public, volunteer coordinator Margie Ferguson said. Currently, eight volunteers man the crisis lines open to sexual assault and domestic violence victims, aid in fund-raisers and transport women to domestic violence shelters (part of the Tri-County Resource Center).

Volunteer families mentor and support at-risk children through Hilltop's Tandem Families program. Right now, 28 families are mentoring; Ferguson said more are needed to help the 73 enrolled children.

Hilltop's other programs include the Robert A. Brown Center for Youth, which helps children return to their own families and teaches life responsibility skills.

All of the nonprofits said they needed more volunteers; see the above informational box for meeting times and other details.

"So often, our religious society and our secular society kind of move around in circles that never touch," said Warren. "But isn't it great that we can work together?"

Contact Katharhynn Heidelberg via e-mail

at katharhynnh@montrosepress.com

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