Stories of Light

When Shopworks Architecture was founded in 2012, it was with a bold vision: to design communities that restore dignity. From the beginning, they believed architecture should be more than brick and mortar. It should heal. It should empower. It should inspire. Over the past decade, Shopworks has pioneered the practice of trauma-informed design, an approach that considers how the built environment impacts all of us, and especially those who have experienced hardship. The concept is simple but powerful: natural light, community gathering spaces, safety, and beauty are not luxuries. They are essential elements of recovery and resilience. It is also…

After retiring from a long career in insurance, Lana Koscove found herself restless. Her grandchildren were growing up, the days felt long, and she missed the energy of young minds. Then she spotted a small ad for VOA Colorado’s Foster Grandparents program, and everything changed. “I love kids,” she says. “I just wasn’t ready to stop being around them.” Now 73, Lana volunteers three to four days a week, working one-on-one with first graders on math, reading, and even art. Her favorite part? That moment when a child who’s been struggling suddenly gets it. “It’s phenomenal,” she beams. “Being a…

“Awesome to be part of something bigger.” At 65, Denver resident Manny is living proof that it’s never too late to find new purpose, and new community, through service. After serving in the U.S. Army and spending over 30 years with the U.S. Postal Service, Manny thought he was simply showing up to share a meal with a friend at a VOA Colorado senior dining center. But that dinner turned into something much more. He struck up a conversation with project manager Sean Fujimoto, who mentioned volunteer opportunities, and that was all it took. Today, Manny volunteers with VOA’s City…

At 81, Mike Roth knows what it means to receive help and what it means to give it back. Mike’s story begins in post-war Germany, where as a young boy he endured hunger, fear, cold, and hardship. His life changed when a U.S. Army officer, a man who would later become his stepfather, brought his family food and coal. “He saved us,” Mike recalls. That experience planted a lifelong sense of gratitude and a deep desire to give back. At age six, Mike immigrated to the U.S. and later dedicated 25 years to the Marine Corps. After moving to Colorado…

Every Tuesday for the past 14 years, Kathy and Jim Bowers have walked into the Fort Collins Senior Center with a purpose bigger than themselves. What started as a post-retirement curiosity quickly blossomed into a heartfelt mission filled with laughter, connection, and compassion. Kathy, a retired CSU staff member, and Jim, a retired electrical engineer, found their calling in VOA Colorado’s Congregate Dining program, a community-based initiative that provides nutritious meals in a warm, social setting for older adults. At sites across Colorado, seniors gather not just to eat, but to connect. For many, it’s their one outing of the…

For the Unbridled companies, giving back isn’t just a value written on a wall; it’s a way of life. As a full-service event production company, Unbridled Productions is known for creating unforgettable experiences that bring people together. But what truly defines them is how they channel their creativity, resources, and success into service. Through UnbridledACTS, their charitable arm, they dedicate a portion of their profits to causes that restore hope, provide stability, and help people thrive. That spirit of generosity is what drew Unbridled Productions to VOA Colorado. For Navy veteran and Unbridled Productions president, Kevin Miller, this partnership is…

Avocet Communications, a Longmont, CO-based and nationally recognized marketing agency, is a dedicated partner in advancing VOA Colorado’s mission to serve those most in need across the state. As a proud member of VOA Colorado’s Companies of Hope program, their support extends far beyond the basic; it is marketing that is grounded in creating powerful connections, amplifying voices, and driving community awareness that inspires action and impact. Avocet helps us tell the stories of seniors, veterans, families, and children, ensuring their experiences of resilience and hope are seen and shared across Colorado. Through strategic development, marketing communications, public relations, social…

At VOA Colorado’s Southwest Safehouse in Durango, healing doesn’t happen all at once; it begins with simple acts of compassion. For volunteer Heather Porpiglia, those acts include caring for children from infants to teens in the Kids Club, gardening to create a sense of peace, and painting rooms to make the shelter feel more like home. Heather came to the Safehouse with her own lived experience and a deep desire to give back. “People come here because they’ve run out of options,” she says. “But what they find is safety, dignity, and the chance to rebuild.” It’s a mission Heather…

Giving Her Heart to the Southwest Safehouse When Tammie Barger moved to Durango just as the COVID pandemic hit, she didn’t know it would lead her to one of the most meaningful roles of her life. A retired events and travel professional from Houston, Tammie had spent years coordinating behind the scenes, but now she’s serving on the front lines of healing at VOA Colorado’s Southwest Safehouse. The Southwest Safehouse in Durango provides a secure, confidential haven for survivors of domestic violence and their children. More than just shelter, it offers critical support services like safety planning, advocacy, and emotional…

If you would like to support our Operation Backpack program – one of our many initiatives that helps children in need succeed, despite their circumstances – you can do so by clicking here. Operation Backpack fills in the gap for children experiencing homelessness, poverty, and otherwise underprivileged circumstances. Your donations help us provide backpacks, school supplies, and funding for academic enrichment to homeless and underprivileged children.