Colorado Program for People with Developmental & Intellectual Disabilities Needs Help Getting a New Bus

Unfortunately, sometimes it takes something bad to happen for us to find out about great things that are happening in our community. In this case, it took a bus, used to transport more than 230 folks who have developmental and intellectual disabilities for a program called FRIENDS of Broomfield, nearly breaking down to learn about the great work of this nonprofit.

According to their website, FRIENDS of Broomfield began in 1998 as a grass-roots parent advocacy network, intended to better the lives of their children with a developmental disability. The early years were focused on providing advocacy, support, information sharing, and referrals. Parents trusted FRIENDS to help them find respite and recreation resources for their children and to navigate Medicaid and school-based assistance programs. As these children entered their teenage years it was clear that there was a need in the Broomfield community for programs to help them.

Back to the bus… They use their buses and vans to provide programming around the community for their participants, like self-defense classes and cooking lessons, but one of the buses is about to break down. The wheelchair lift no longer functions properly, it’s banged up, and many seats are permanently reclined.

They are hoping for community support to get a new bus, and thanks to an anonymous corporate match, they now only need to raise $60,000, as opposed to the original $120,000. You can help them inch closer to their goal here.