The Westminster Office Volunteer Committee partnered with the Westminster Office Party Crew Committee this year for our December event. We put together ten different gift baskets and sold raffle tickets for $2.00 each for the chance to win a basket. Employees and spouses purchased tickets and then dropped them into the box that correlated with the basket they wanted to take a chance on winning. The during the annual Christmas party that was held at the Balistreri Winery, we drew the winners of each basket. The baskets were so great and there was a variety of themes. The funds that were raised during this event went to our Charity of the year, Growing Home.

November is the month that we always think about the less fortunate soles in our community. So this year we wanted to do something to help the Denver Rescue Mission provide Thanksgiving Dinner to the homeless in our community. We sold turkey feathers to decorate our turkey in the lunchroom. Each feather was $2.00 which would provide one hot meal at Thanksgiving for the homeless. We raised $135.00 which was donated to the Denver Rescue Mission and will provide 40 hot Thanksgiving dinners. Thank you to all of our generous employees for participating in this event.

This month the Westminster Office Volunteer Committee partnered with Project Angel Heart and got creative. Our conference room became the “Creative Room” for a couple of days. Employees were encouraged to make Thanksgiving cards for the organization Project Angel Heart. This group distributes meals to individuals with terminal illnesses who cannot get out on their own. They include a holiday card with each meal given to an individual in November. This is not the first time we have done this project and each time, our creative employees give their time to create the nicest greeting cards for this organization. We made over 60 holiday cards, which is amazing and so much fun. Thanks to all of our employees who participated and/or donated old greeting cards to use for this project.

This month the Westminster Office Volunteer Committee asked employees to drop off any sample or travel size toiletries. These were collected to drop off to Growing Home, a Westminster homeless shelter. A large box of items was collected and dropped off to the shelter. It is helping local people in our community.

Christmas in July!!! The Westminster Office Volunteer Committee asked our employees to think about Christmas early this year. We asked employees to shop for toys in July to ease the pain of shopping in December and to purchase toys for Toys for Tots, which is a toy drive organized by the US Marines. Toys for Tots distributes toys to needy children in December so more kids can enjoy the spirit of Christmas. We collected dozens of toys and held them until November, then we would deliver them to a donation site so they can be given away to those great kids. Who doesn’t like the look on a child’s face when they open a toy at Christmas. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

This is the month we all start thinking about cleaning out closets. The Westminster Office Volunteer Committee held a coat drive this month. We asked employees to bring in old coats that they no longer needed or wanted and place them in the large barrel in the lunchroom. We had a huge barrel of coats and in early November we took them to the Coats for Colorado donation site. We know these coats will help keep many people warm this winter and we are thankful to Channel 4 and Dependable Cleaners for making this event happen every year. We are happy to do our part.

The Westminster Office Volunteer Committee held a Hot Dog Bar to kick off the baseball season and to wish our Rockies the best of luck in 2015. The lunch included yummy steamed hot dogs and buns with all of the trimmings for only $5.00! We all dressed in our favorite Rockies jerseys and were ready for the start of the season. The Hot Dog Bar raised funds for the Colorado Rockies Charity Fund.