COMMUNITY RESOURCES

This page is designed to make finding help fast and giving back simple. Whether you're in need of support, or ready to honor

Jax through action, this dropdown is here for you. 

VOLUNTEER:

Volunteer Opportunities

🏠 BASIC NEEDS & SHELTER VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS

RESOURCES:

**Grief Support

Denver-Based Support

The Denver Hospice Grief Center

HeartLight Center

  • Multiple peer-support and educational groups addressing spousal loss, parent/child/sibling grief, traumatic loss, substance-related loss, men’s groups, youth support, and more jcmh.org+3uchealth.org+3thedenverhospice.org+3.

  • Upcoming July groups include widow/widower, suicide-loss, and substance-loss meetings. Donation: ~$15 heartlightcenter.org.

  • Location: 11150 E. Dartmouth Ave, Aurora/Lakewood options.

Judi’s House

Metro Denver Support Listings (via UCHealth)

  • Comprehensive directory of support groups, including widowers, caregivers, infant loss, and adolescence grief uchealth.org+1jcmh.org+1.

Denver Medical Examiner Family Advocate Support Team (FAST)

  • For families impacted by death under investigation (including missing persons later found deceased): guidance, referrals, and support .

  • Contact: 720‑337‑7607 or FAST@denvergov.org.

🌐 National Resources

GriefShare

  • 13-week group series for general bereavement—free to ~$20 for materials. Over 1 million participants worldwide denvergov.orggriefshare.org.

Trans Lifeline

The Trevor Project

Empty Arms Bereavement Support

Outreach for Families of Missing Persons

  • National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC): peer & mental health support for families and caregivers of missing children missingkids.org.

The Compassionate Friends

  • Peer-to-peer support for families grieving a child’s death; over 70 chapters nationwide, including in Aurora/Jefferson County jcmh.org.

The Okra Project

  • Mutual aid and wellness support for Black trans people, including mental health and grief services en.wikipedia.org.

The Dougy Center

  • A national model (based in Portland) offering resources for grieving children and families; network includes ~500 programs worldwide en.wikipedia.org.

SAMHSA & NAMI

  • SAMHSA: mental‑health support, referral via 988 or 1‑800‑662‑HELP .

  • NAMI: local affiliates can connect you to grief groups and community mental health .

💡 Helpful Tips for Navigating Grief

  • Grief is personal—support types (peer, psycho‑educational, clinical) vary depending on your needs .

  • You’re not alone—but finding a safe, affirming group (particularly for trans or missing-persons grief) matters.

  • Crisis support is available 24/7 if needed: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988) or Trans Lifeline during operating hours, plus Trevor Project for LGBTQ+ youth.

Veterans Services

 

 

Pet Owner Support

Dumb Friends League Pet Pantry

  • Free pet food for qualifying families in need.

  • Open to the public with proof of need or ID.

  • Locations in Denver and satellite events monthly.
    🔗 ddfl.org/pet-pantry

MaxFund Pet Food Bank

  • Offers dry/wet dog and cat food to low-income pet guardians.

  • Call ahead to confirm availability.
    🔗 maxfund.org

Colorado Pet Pantry

  • Distributes pet food at human food banks statewide, including many in the Denver metro area.

  • No need to apply—just show up at listed partner locations.
    🔗 coloradopetpantry.org

  • Spay Today Healthy Pet Clinic (via MaxFund)

    Dumb Friends League Veterinary Hospital

    • Offers subsidized urgent care, wellness, dental, and diagnostics to qualified low-income households.

    • Income-based sliding scale.
      🔗 ddfl.org/veterinary-hospital

    Peace, Love & Paws Veterinary Care Assistance

    • Small local group offering emergency vet bill grants and help for pet owners facing temporary hardship.
      🔗 peaceloveandpaws.org

    PetAid Colorado (Now part of Dumb Friends League)

    • Previously offered vet bill help and may still provide access to partner services.

    • Now routes through DDFL Veterinary Hospital.

    • PawsCo

      • Offers fostering, food help, temporary pet care, and animal advocacy.

      • Contact them for help keeping pets during housing or job transitions.
        🔗 pawsco.org

      The Street Dog Coalition – Denver Chapter

      • Free vet clinics for individuals experiencing homelessness and their pets.

      • Also offers flea/tick meds, vaccines, and minor treatments.
        🔗 thestreetdogcoalition.org

      Denver Animal Shelter – Resource Guide

      • City-managed shelter offering pet owner support, including lost/found services, spay/neuter vouchers, and rehoming.
        🔗 denvergov.org/animal-shelter

      • Cat Care Society

        • Cat-exclusive shelter offering adoption, temporary care, and a Corky’s Cupboard Pet Food Bank.

        • Also hosts low-cost vaccine and microchip clinics.

        • Provides medical care for cats of low-income seniors and those in crisis.
          🔗 catcaresociety.org

        • Everyday Therapy Vets (ETV)

          • Accessible and affordable mobile veterinary care across Denver.

          • Offers wellness checks, vaccines, diagnostics, and help with chronic conditions.

          • Especially helpful for underserved or marginalized communities.
            🔗 etv.vet

          Dumb Friends League Veterinary Hospital at Yuma

          • Affordable urgent and routine care for income-qualified pet owners.

          • Dental, diagnostics, and preventative services included.
            🔗 ddfl.org/veterinary-hospital

Youth & Family Support

LGBTQIA+ Community Services

Basic Needs & Shelter Support

 

  • The Gathering Place – Day shelter & services for women, children, and transgender individuals
    🔗 tgpdenver.org

  • Denver Rescue Mission – Meals, shelter, and recovery programs
    🔗 denverrescuemission.org

  • Metro Caring – Free groceries and food justice programming
    🔗 metrocaring.org

  • Food Bank of the Rockies – Food access and pantry locations across CO
    🔗 foodbankrockies.org

  • Samaritan House – Emergency and transitional housing
    🔗 ccdenver.org

  • Urban Peak – Shelter and support for youth (15–24) experiencing homelessness
    🔗 urbanpeak.org

  • The Light House Denver – Mentorship for youth aging out of foster care
    🔗 thelighthousedenver.org

 

Missing Persons & Unidentified Individuals

WyoFind – Taking Action for the Missing

A volunteer-run search and support organization based in Wyoming and serving the surrounding region, including Colorado.

Offers search coordination, community awareness, and emotional support for families of missing persons.
🔗 wyofind.org

MMIR Task Force of Colorado – Missing & Murdered Indigenous Relatives

A grassroots organization advocating for Colorado's Indigenous communities impacted by missing and murdered loved ones.

Supports families through MIPA alerts, awareness campaigns, community-led events, and partnerships with agencies like CBI.
🔗 mmirtaskforceco.com

Colorado Missing Persons Network (Facebook Group)

A grassroots community platform sharing updates and coordinating search/public awareness efforts.
🔗 Search on Facebook: Colorado Missing Persons Network

National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Free federal database assisting families and authorities in resolving missing and unidentified person cases.
🔗 namus.nij.ojp.gov

Denver Office of the Medical Examiner – Unidentified Persons

Maintains records and contacts for unidentified persons in Denver County; public can inquire via the office.
🔗 denvergov.org – Medical Examiner

Jefferson County Missing Persons & Runaways 

State-level Missing Person Alert Program in partnership with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and local law enforcement.
🔗 jeffco.us

My Loved One Is Missing

Dedicated to Missing Persons Advocacy Education, raising awareness of missing, unidentified and cold/mishandled cases, and locating next of kin for unclaimed persons.

www.mylovedoneismissing.com

Community & Environmental Justice

 

  • Denver Community Fridges – Free food in community-run fridge locations
    🔗 @denvercommunityfridges

  • Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) – Community garden access and food security
    🔗 dug.org

 

Substance Use & Recovery Services

 

 

Domestic & Interpersonal Violence Support

 

 

Indigenous & Other Minority Community Services

  • Asian Pacific Development Center (APDC): Mental health counseling for Asian immigrants/refugees, ESL, youth programs, anti-trafficking services in many languages. Located in Aurora. en.wikipedia.org

  • Spirit of the Sun: Uplifts Native American and Indigenous youth via supplies, workshops, mutual aid, and cultural support. reddit.com

  • Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC): Legal defense, deportation prevention, multilingual and multifaith member-led advocacy. reddit.com

  • Sanctuary 4 All: Grassroots mutual aid, solidarity meals, and direct advocacy for immigrant families. reddit.com

  • MMIR Task Force of Colorado – Missing & Murdered Indigenous Relatives

    A grassroots organization advocating for Colorado's Indigenous communities impacted by missing and murdered loved ones.

    Supports families through MIPA alerts, awareness campaigns, community-led events, and partnerships with agencies like CBI.
    🔗 mmirtaskforceco.com