Round-Up Grant Helps Habitat for Humanity Provide Homes for Two Families

St. Vrain Habitat for Humanity presented two Carbon Valley families with keys to their new homes alongside friends, family, volunteers, and community organizations at a ribbon cutting in January. Among the organizations present at the event was United Power’s Operation Round-Up Foundation.

Habitat for Humanity provides newly constructed homes to families who are positioned for home ownership but are unable to qualify for traditional financing. The organization builds homes from the ground up and sells them at cost to selected families thanks to support from community volunteers. Round-Up awarded Habitat for Humanity a $5,000 grant to help with home construction costs.

“Without the help of community partners like Round-Up, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do for these families,” said Rebecca Shannon, community engagement manager for St. Vrain Habitat for Humanity.

Round-Up is funded entirely by members who voluntarily “round up” their monthly statements to the next whole dollar. The average contribution is approximately $.50 per month. Those funds are then redistributed to nonprofits in various parts of the service territory to ensure as many members receive help as possible.

“We are proud to support community organizations meeting the needs of vulnerable members,” said Joan Kniss, a Round-Up board member. “Habitat for Humanity has a strong track record of lifting people up and lets us see our grant dollars in action.”

Home ownership allows families to put down roots and begin contributing to their local community, Shannon said. Homes are not only built to meet all safety requirements, but are also energy efficient, which lowers the cost of ownership. Selected families are required to demonstrate commitment to their new home by returning volunteer hours helping with the construction of their future homes. Having a hand in building your own home develops a sense of pride in it.

Habitat for Humanity broke ground on a new home in Carbon Valley on March 7. To volunteer, visit www.stvrainhabitat.org.

More than 20% of United Power members voluntarily round up their bills. To enroll in Operation Round-Up, click here.

Marshall Fire Reveals Urban Fire Threat; March 6 Seminar to Cover Fire Safety & Preparedness

Historic wildfires have devastated large parts of Colorado and its neighboring states over the past few years. However, the Marshall Fire in late December opened our eyes to the reality that wildfires are not simply a threat for our mountain communities. Given the right conditions, wildfires can spring up anywhere and quickly become uncontrollable.

The Marshall Fire erupted in eastern Boulder County before claiming nearly 1,000 homes and businesses in Boulder, Superior and Louisville, just miles from Denver and even closer to United Power members living in Coal Creek Canyon and Carbon Valley.

United Power has made significant investments in system improvements and upgrades to mitigate the potential for fires off its power lines, particularly in its own mountain communities. With multiple strong wind storms in December, including the storm that fueled the Marshall Fire, those system improvements have more than shown their value to members in both reliability and safety. The cooperative has also provided additional resources members can use to help mitigate the threat of wildfires on their own property, such as how to create “defensible space,” referring to the strategic removal of vegetation that could create a bridge for fire to pass over.

In March, the Firestone Free Thinkers 4-H Club, in partnership with United Power, is hosting a free one-hour fire safety and disaster preparedness training, presented by the Frederick-Firestone Fire Protection District and the Carbon Valley Emergency Management Agency. The training will discuss how to pack a “go kit” in case of an emergency, how to create defensible space, the difference between evacuations and shelter-in-place and hazards in Carbon Valley.

Fire Safety & Disaster Preparedness Training

FREE 1-HOUR EVENT. NO RSVP REQUIRED. 

Where:
United Power Carbon Valley Service Center
9586 E I-25 Frontage Rd, Longmont

When:
March 6, 2022 @ 3:00 p.m.

Contact:
CV Emergency Management, 720-526-6594
www.fffd.us/227/emergency-management