I moved to Colorado in November, over seven years ago, along with my wife. Everyone warned us it would be colder here than back “home,” back East, but I remember standing outside the hotel to smoke cigarettes, wearing shorts and a T-shirt as it snowed, and I felt nothing. 

We came with $3,000 and all of our necessities in a suitcase and camping backpack, which we would lug from Centennial to Arvada and everywhere in between, from hotel rooms to AirBnbs, until we both could secure jobs, buy a car, and save up enough for a security deposit and two months rent to get an apartment…which wouldn’t happen until February.

That first Thanksgiving in Colorado we ate at Denny’s, as it was the only option within walking distance outside of our hotel, and we couldn’t justify spending the money on an Uber to go and spend even more money on a fancier dinner somewhere else. 

For Christmas, we weren’t granted another two weeks stay at our AirBnb and had to hope to find another place. Though we had started working, it would be at least another week before we would see any money, so we had to spend our dwindling savings to secure a place and travel by bus and train to the new temporary accommodations.    

In order to keep us afloat, we sold some of our belongings and lightened the load that we were lugging on our backs. As most people just attempted to haggle on our precious possessions, there was one stranger who asked why we were selling our things. 

That person not only bought our possessions at the price we asked for, she also understood that, because of our situation, because we needed to prioritize a roof over our heads, we would not be able to afford a Christmas dinner. 

The next day she brought us a turkey, boxed potatoes, Stovetop stuffing, a can of cranberry sauce, a can of string beans, a packet of gravy, and more. 

Such kindness and selfless charity coming to us when we were most in need, and during the emotional weight of the holidays, reinforced our faith in humanity, and reinvigorated our faith in ourselves. We were given a chance to carry on with our journey, and we knew then that our journey would be meaningless if we didn’t pay this karmic debt forward.

Selflessness breeds selflessness.

This year please consider donating to the Nederland Food Pantry (NFP) as they prepare to distribute the fixins for holiday meals to those in need within the Peak to Peak community. 

The NFP’s wish list includes: butter, stuffing, instant potatoes, gravy, salad dressing, condiments, pie filling, pie crust, sweetened condensed milk, canned yams, canned soups, boxed sides, crackers, tea, coffee, sugar, flour, and spices.  

Thanksgiving distribution will be at the Nederland Community Center on Saturday, November 16, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Your donation of providing a holiday meal to someone in need may positively impact that person more than you’ll ever know.  

The Nederland Food Pantry is located at 196 West 1st Street and is open Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to noon.

For the week of Thanksgiving, the facility will be open regular time on Tuesday, November 26 and Saturday, November 30, but will be closed on Thursday, November 28. 

For the week of Christmas, the facility will be closed on Tuesday, December 24, and Thursday, December 26, and will reopen on Saturday, December 28, from 10 a.m. to noon. 

For more information go to: https://www.nederlandfoodpantry.org.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a food emergency after operating hours, call 720-418-0892 for assistance.