COVID-19: Mountain community joins together to support each other

In uncertain times, people often come together.

The mountain community is no different. In the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak, nonprofit organizations and community members throughout Evergreen and Conifer are banding together to provide support to those who need it.

EChO
The community has definitely responded to the food needs of the area’s most vulnerable, according to the executive director of Evergreen Christian Outreach.

Mountain Resource Center
Ten thousand pounds of food.

That’s how much Conifer’s Mountain Resource Center estimates it handed out last week. On a typical week, the organization distributes some 2,000 pounds to its regular clients.

NEED FOOD OR WANT TO HELP?
If you need help with food, the Evergreen Christian Outreach food bank is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays. It is located next to Church of the Transfiguration, 27640 Highway 74 on the east end of downtown Evergreen. For more information and to donate, visit evergreenchristianoutreach.org.

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The Mountain Resource Center food pantry is open today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Thursday from noon to 4 p.m. To learn more about the organization’s remote services or to make a donation, visit www.mrcco.org .

Read more here: www.canyoncourier.com/content/covid-19-m...r-support-each-other
By Deb Hurley Brobst and Deborah Swearingen
Wednesday, March 25, 2020

COVID-19: Evergreen businesses adapting to challenging circumstances

Businesses in downtown Evergreen are taking on the challenge of keeping their heads above water during a pandemic.

“They took something difficult, and they’re running with it,” said Meghan Warren, program coordinator for the Evergreen Downtown Business Association. “They’re thinking outside the box.”

Read more here: www.canyoncourier.com/content/covid-19-e...enging-circumstances
By Deb Hurley Brobst
Wednesday, March 25, 2020

COVID-19: Business leaders push for takeout, local shopping in new landscape

As soon as the COVID-19 outbreak began, leaders of the mountain-area chambers of commerce went to work.

They quickly formed the Economic Impact Task Force to lead the community by providing economic guidance for businesses during the coronavirus impact.

Current members of the task force include Melanie Swearengin, Betsy Hays and Matt Dambrosky — the heads of the Conifer, Evergreen and Platte Canyon chambers of commerce — as well as Mark Major with Inglenook Energy and Mic Helms with Mic Helms Business Development. The task force holds daily teleconference calls to discuss the current situation and find the best ways to help the local business community.

Read more here: www.canyoncourier.com/content/covid-19-b...opping-new-landscape
By Deb Hurley Brobst and Deborah Swearingen
Tuesday, March 24, 2020

COVID-19: Elk Run residents, community connect via Skype

Elk Run Assisted Living has found a way to keep the community connected with its senior residents: Skype.

Performers have lined up to chat with and entertain the residents via video chat. No more than 10 residents gather around the big-screen television in the club room for 15 minutes to listen to music, hear stories and chat. The interactions are at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Read more here: www.canyoncourier.com/content/covid-19-e...munity-connect-skype
By Deb Hurley Brobst
Tuesday, March 24, 2020

COVID-19: Bailey artist creating coloring pages to ease stress

When Kate Plaisance sits at her desk to draw or paint, it’s likely the only time her mind truly quiets.

Knowing others could benefit, the Bailey resident decided it would be fun to create daily coloring pages to share with the community. Plaisance, who said she suffers from anxiety herself, hopes her coloring pages will give people a moment to breathe and allow them to check out, even if just for a moment.

Interested? Find Kate Plaisance's work on Facebook or Instagram at "Well Dressed Mess Art.

Read more here: www.canyoncourier.com/content/covid-19-b...ng-pages-ease-stress
By Deborah Swearingen
Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Conifer woman battling COVID-19 symptoms urges public to stay home, take it seriously

For Sarah Fennell, it started with a fever.

More than two weeks later, the fever is still there. Fennell, a Conifer resident, has been suffering from symptoms of COVID-19 since around the third week of March. On March 26, after a telehealth appointment with her Centura Health doctor in Golden, Fennell received a note saying she has symptoms consistent with the novel coronavirus. However, due to a nationwide lack of testing, she hasn’t been tested for it.

“This is not (the) flu. It’s different,” Fennell said. “You can tell that there’s something off, (that) you haven’t felt this way before.”

In particular, the chest pain has been rough and unlike any Fennell has experienced before.

Read more here: www.canyoncourier.com/content/conifer-wo...me-take-it-seriously
By Deborah Swearingen
Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Area nurses preparing for COVID-19 peak

Colorado’s health care professionals working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic are bracing themselves for what’s to come.

“I think right now we’re in the … calm-before-the-storm phase,” said Evergreen resident Megan Quill.

Quill, a nurse practitioner in the emergency room at a Centura Health hospital down the hill, said her hospital hasn’t been overwhelmed yet, but she expects it will come. An epidemiologist she works with is predicting that things will probably get significantly worse within the next week.

Kelly Stupak, an Evergreen resident who also works as a nurse in Denver, agreed.

Read more here: www.canyoncourier.com/content/area-nurse...paring-covid-19-peak
By Deborah Swearingen
Wednesday, April 8, 2020