Summit County Cares

Summit County Cares Food Drive:  May 1-31

May is a dire month for many people in our community as they face job layoffs or transitions in between the winter and summer seasons that come with living in Summit County. The four food banks in the area, Family & Intercultural Resource Center (FIRC), Dillon Community Church, Father Dyer and Church of Christ, all make keeping food on the table a reality for families and individuals struggling through the off-season. During the high-demand times, each of the food banks will supply over 2,000 pounds of food each month to over 200 people. This is why the goal of the Summit County Cares food drive is to raise 10,000 pounds of food to help keep shelves stocked.

People can donate money to The Summit Foundation’s Summit County Cares Food Drive fund, which will allow food banks to buy food from wholesalers or non-perishable items can be dropped off at FIRC, Dillon and Breckenridge City Market locations, or the post offices in Frisco, Dillon and Silverthorne. Items in need are canned tuna, peanut butter, canned fruit, beans, rice, pasta, pasta sauce, baby diapers, baby wipes and toiletries.

Thank you to The Summit Daily News, Krystal 93, Always Mountain Time, Comcast Spotlight and Summit TV for their support.

2012 Summit County Cares Raises Record-Setting $62,000

Thanks to the generosity of the community, the 2012 Summit County Cares holiday fundraiser more than surpassed the original goal of $50,000; raising over $62,000 to help locals unable to provide the basics of shelter, heat or medical care.

Summit County Cares is the largest emergency assistance fund in Summit County.  Funds raised help over 800 locals facing eviction, disconnection of heat or in need of medical or dental care. The fund benefits the clients of Family & Intercultural Resource Center, Summit Community Care Clinic, Advocates for Victims of Assault and Social Services and 100 percent of the money raised is used to pay rent, utility or medical bills.

Over 97 percent of clients receiving help with this emergency assistance are facing financial struggles because of sudden or seasonal job loss, reduction of hours, a medical emergency keeping them from work or they need to get out of an abusive relationship.

Campaign donations are annually accepted through The Summit Foundation and the fundraiser is supported by the local media through thousands of dollars in donated advertising and coverage to help educate the community on the struggles many face in Summit County. The success of this past year’s fundraiser, held from November 1 to December 31, 2012 is due to the generous support of the Breckenridge Restaurant Association’s fall dining passport sales of $10,000, as well as substantial contributions from Grand Lodge on Peak 7, Father Dyer United Methodist Church, Blue River Bistro from their Dine Out to Donate evening and the Summit County Cares Kids Party.

Thank you to everyone who generously supported the Summit County Cares campaign during the 2012 holiday season. These gifts will make 2013 a bit brighter for many struggling families.

When the unexpected happens, Summit County Cares is here to help.

For more information please contact Anita at 970-262-3888 ext. 306 or email anitao@summitfirc.org