Community Based Organization Spotlight ! We will be featuring our CBO partners in each newsletter edition. Our hope is to influence connection and highlight all the amazing work of the CBOs 😊
Sun Valley Community Center (SVCC) was founded in 2014, and has been serving the Sun Valley Community through a variety of programming and community-building efforts, including cooking classes for kids, a bi-weekly No-Cost Grocery Program, and weeknight dinners for Sun Valley youth. SVCC serves children and families in Sun Valley by creating opportunities for employment, education, enrichment and nourishment.
SVCC's mission is to serve children and families with food and love, while providing a space where residents feel supported, safe and connected. Want more information about SVCC's programs? Visit www.feedingsunvalley.com
COVID UPDATES
Have COVID tests? Make sure you are ready for the fall/Winter by having rapid tests on hand. Having boxes under the cabinet will make family gatherings easier and help put your mind at ease when traveling or just battling a respiratory illness. Many Denver Recreation Centers, hospitals, and other community centers have free tests to distribute. Find a general list of locations here .
Expiration dates on Rapid at-home tests can be confusing as most have been deemed okay to use past the printed expiration date. Use the link below to check and see updated “shelf life” and “expiration” of a given test https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list
What does COVID look like in my area? If you are interested the COVID-19 Dashboard in your area, it is updated daily on the CDPHE website here. The latest variant updates can be viewed here. REMINDER - Positive At-Home Testers can call the COVID-19 Resource Line for food delivery and resources 720-865-5767.
CDC is still primary location to find COVID related isolation/Quarantine and general information- www.cdc.gov
Many people recover fully within a few days or weeks after being infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. But others have symptoms that linger for weeks, months, or even years after their initial diagnosis. Some people seem to recover from COVID-19 but then see their symptoms return, or they develop new symptoms within a few months. As more and more people have at least one infection of COVID19, if not multiple, it is natural to be more concerned about the potential of getting long COVID. NIH and other organizations are trying to learn more about long COVID by conducting long term research studied. This may give us more information about how to prevent long COVID and manage symptoms.
Diabetes and Post-COVID conditions
Some COVID-19 patients have been reported to develop type 1 or type 2 diabetes after they recover from the illness. Read more from the CDC here. Report findings suggest that people ages 18 years or younger with COVID-19 were more likely to receive a new diabetes diagnosis more than 30 days after infection. Researchers are still learning more about the link between COVID-19 and diabetes.
Check out Long COVID resources here!
1. https://www.longcovidkids.org/
-Long Covid Kids represent and support families children and young people living with Long COVID and related illnesses. They are working on Awareness, Support, Research & Action for all post covid symptoms.
2 Long COVID | NIH COVID-19 Research – Information about national research on long COVID (RECOVER).
3. https://longcovidalliance.org/ Long-COVID Alliance works towards advocating, leveraging, and translating research finding for long COVID. What can you do?
Try to avoid a COVID 19 infection by limiting high risk scenarios, consider when and where you want to continue wearing a mask, use basic hygiene.
You may be more likely to have long COVID if you have severe disease. Getting vaccinated and boosted are still the best tools to protect yourself. Consider enrolling in a long COVID study.
FOOD Resources Did you know? That Denver Human Services has multiple ways for the community to sign up for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). DHS can connect you to other food resources in the community. Call 720-944-4347. Se Habla Espanol. Here are the locations for SNAP sign up
Federico Pena Southwest Family Center
1339 S Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80219 303-602-0000
· St. Francis Center 2323 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80205 303-297-1576
Family Forward Resource Center 12000 E 47th Ave, Denver, CO 303-307-0718
Women, Infants, and Children(WIC) Program
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children(WIC) provides nutrition education, breastfeeding support, healthy food, health referrals and other services free of charge to Colorado families who qualify. WIC’s goal is to keep pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under age 5 healthy. By filling out this online form, a WIC clinic near you will contact you soon.
Denver Health has co-enrollment for WIC and SNAP so new parents receive support transitioning from WIC to SNAP. Montbello, Eastside, Webb and Westside Clinics have outpatient enrollment services for WIC enrollment during a pediatric or OB appointment. Make sure to ask your provider about this.
Did you know? That WIC does not ask or keep information about visa status or citizenship. All responses are kept confidential. WIC gives you resources, knowledge and tools to help you and support your family. It’s free for moms, dads, grandparents, foster parents and all Colorado families who qualify.
Food Pantries Near you
211 is a great tool to find food pantries near you.
Click here
Here is a list of Operating Food Pantries in Denver
Click here
Food Delivery
Benefits in Action (BIA) delivers food boxes containing non-perishable and fresh foods to those living in the Denver metro area who are unable to acquire food on their own. Use the website or call the office at 720-221-8354 to start receiving food. BIA also offers application assistance with SNAP and federal health care programs such as Medicaid and Medicare.
Metro Caring provides food delivery services as well as on-site no-cost market shopping. Application information is provided in Spanish and Mandarin. Education classes are also offered on topics including nutrition, cooking, diabetes and Kidz in the Kitchen program for children and their families.