Stories of Light

For many families, the end of the school year brings excitement, celebrations, and summer plans. But for others, it can also bring stress, uncertainty, and difficult questions about childcare, nutrition, and stability. At VOA Colorado, our Early Childhood Education Programs help provide that stability year-round for families who need it most. Through Head Start and Early Head Start, VOA Colorado offers free, high-quality, dual-language early education programs for pregnant mothers, infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Beyond the classroom, families also receive support through health resources, nutrition services, mental health support, and family advocacy. For families like Mateo’s, those services can be…

Story submitted by Dylan Starks, SSVF Fort Collins After years of cycling in and out of housing, one Northern Colorado veteran had started to believe stability simply was not possible. He had experienced chronic homelessness for years and had previously received housing support through VOA Colorado’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program. But ongoing mental health challenges and other barriers made it difficult to maintain long-term housing. This time, the approach looked different. Recognizing that traditional solutions were not enough, the SSVF team in Fort Collins partnered closely with the VA to create a more individualized plan focused on…

In April, VOA Colorado proudly celebrated the grand opening of the new Navigation Center in partnership with the City of Lakewood. This center represents a major step forward in addressing homelessness through a more coordinated, housing-focused approach. Designed to serve up to 100 individuals at a time, the facility operates 24/7/365 and provides more than just shelter. It offers a pathway to stability. Guests receive individualized support, access to critical services, and guidance toward long-term housing and self-sufficiency. The focus is simple but powerful. Meet people where they are and help them move forward with dignity and accountability. As Dave…

Saunders Construction is known across Colorado not just for the buildings they create, but for the way they approach the work—prioritizing people, relationships, and long-term community wellbeing. As a Colorado-based, employee-owned construction company with more than 400 team members living and raising families across the state, Saunders brings a deep sense of responsibility to every project. Their belief is simple: if they are shaping a community’s physical landscape, they should also invest in the lives of the people who live there. That philosophy is at the heart of their long-standing partnership with VOA Colorado. Saunders sees VOA as an organization…

When a veteran in Fort Collins needed safe access to his home, Weifield Group didn’t just bring their expertise; they brought their hearts. In a single day, a ramp became more than construction; it became a lifeline to independence and a symbol of dignity. These are the moments that capture the power of Weifield’s partnership with VOA Colorado. Founded in 2002, Weifield has grown to more than 1000 employee-owners across four states and is celebrated as one of the region’s most innovative electrical contractors, completing the first Net-Zero energy projects in the area. Yet beyond their award-winning projects, Weifield’s culture…

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…