Next50 is proud to announce the recipients of our Sudden & Urgent Need 2024 grant opportunity, which enables small organizations from Colorado that serve older adults to receive funding that addresses unbudgeted urgent needs. Through this funding, the ten nonprofits awarded funding in 2024 were able to continue providing necessary resources and avoid prolonged service gaps.
The organizations that received the 2024 Sudden & Urgent Need grants include:
Alamosa Senior Citizens, Inc. ($25,000): This organization provides a variety of health and social services to rural, low-income older adults in the San Luis Valley. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Alamosa Senior Citizens, Inc. had to abruptly stop providing lunches. Funding provided a short-term emergency stopgap to ensure that their 150 older adults can receive a daily hot meal during the winter season.
Wray Fifty-Five and Over Club ($30,000): This rural nonprofit serves and distributes regular meals to older adults in Yuma County. They experienced numerous unanticipated expenses, including severely compensated roof and window structures, water and ice dispenser malfunctions, and gas stove failure. Next50 funding allowed them to replace and repair these utilities to continue serving the older adults in their area.
Elderhaus Adult Day Program ($1,500): Based in Northern Colorado, Elderhaus provides daytime care for older adults living with dementia and other disabilities. Over the summer of 2024, their washer and dryer broke, leaving them without the ability to wash their daily supplies. This grant will allow them to buy a brand-new, energy-efficient washer and dryer.
Woodland Park Senior Organization ($2,510.09): This Teller County-based organization runs a senior center that provides social engagement, nutrition services, and information sessions to older adults in this rural area. The funding allowed them to replace the glass in their exterior door that had been damaged and was about to fall out. This enabled Woodland Park Senior Organization to maintain a safe environment for their clients.
Antonito Senior Citizens Association (ASCA) ($26,500): ASCA serves an isolated, predominantly Hispanic and Latino population in Southern Colorado by providing transportation to meaningful locations outside of their small town. Their bus was outdated and needed expensive repairs, without which they would have had to stop providing transportation services altogether. This grant allowed them to purchase a 15-passenger bus that is more apt to traverse mountain passes to take their clients to different locations and activities they would not be able to access.
Fountain Valley Senior Center ($30,000): This organization serves a low-income population in a rural part of Colorado. They provide social connection and hot, daily meals to the older adults in their building. During a recent cold snap, their HVAC system stopped working, leading to an unexpected pause in services until it was fixed. Next50 dollars helped the organization purchase and install a new HVAC system to keep their doors open.
Denver Asset Building Coalition (DABC) ($30,000): DABC provides free tax services to low-income people – predominantly older adults – in the Denver area, helping clients receive Earned Income Tax Credit and other refunds. Due to Colorado’s 2024 TABOR refund, this organization saw an unexpectedly huge boost in clients and could not meet the temporary demand. The funding allowed DABC to temporarily expand its capacity and meet demand during tax season.
Florence Senior Community Center ($16,800): Based in rural Eastern Colorado, this organization serves low-income older adults, most of whom are living with disabilities. They provide free food distribution and meals to their clients daily. This grant went toward providing a handful of necessary repairs: a kitchen HVAC, water cooler and ice maker, and fire suppression systems. These upgrades allowed the Florence Senior Community Center to continue providing crucial services in a safe environment.
North Fork Senior Connections ($2,000): This nonprofit provides services to low-income, socially isolated older adults in the rural town of Paonia. During the winter of 2024, they saw an increase in cases of COVID among their clientele which resulted in fewer older adults seeking services or receiving needed meals. Next50 dollars went toward installing two air purifiers to keep the older adults safe and healthy.
Southwest Center for Independence (SWIC) ($20,000): SWIC provides services that promote independent living for older adults, people with disabilities, and veterans. A primary part of their programming is Southwest Rides, which provides door-to-door, accessible transportation for clients who are geographically isolated. Their fleet of three vehicles required unexpected fixes, including the repair of a wheelchair lift. This grant allowed Southwest Rides to continue providing free transportation to crucial resources and social opportunities.
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