Imagine! Recovers From The Flood

Six of Imagine’s residential facilities received significant water damage during the severe floods that devastated Colorado in September. Fortunately, the 26 adults with developmental disabilities served in these homes did not need to be evacuated. However, in four of the residences, the live-in staff person whose home was in the basement no longer had a home. Hardest hit was the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder where the basement flooded with four feet of water.

Imagine!'s Innovations Director Jodi Walters worked around the clock to coordinate all of the immediate responses needed to ensure that all clients in Imagine!’s residential sites were safe and being cared for. Other Imagine! staff members pitched in throughout the flooding to keep the needs of the people we serve as the priority. While the rain came down, Imagine!’s Volunteer Coordinator, Elizabeth Hill, was already on the phone with AmeriCorps, requesting volunteer help. Because of her early action, a team of ten AmeriCorps volunteers was dispatched for six weeks specifically to help Imagine! recover. Many acts of true heroism by staff and board members surfaced, making us all proud to be a part of the Imagine! family.

Costs for the gutting and rebuilding effort are currently estimated at more than $140,000, not to mention additional expenses for data recovery, temporary living accommodations, and lost revenue. The total loss is nearly $230,000. The Imagine! Foundation has been at work submitting grants for flood relief. As of this writing, $10,000 has been received from the St. Vrain Flooding Relief Fund of the Longmont Community Foundation, $10,000 from the Foothills Flood Relief Fund, and $6,000 from the ANCOR Foundation. In addition, the Foundation ran a month-long online crowdfunding campaign, which brought in a total of $21,193. But additional funds are still needed to cover these unexpected and unbudgeted expenses.

If you are able, please consider increasing your support at this time of great need—Imagine! Foundation, 1400 Dixon Ave, Lafayette, CO 80026 or online at www.ColoradoGives.org/Imagine. We extend our deepest thanks.

The basement of Imagine!’s Bob and Judy SmartHome was deluged with four feet of water during the recent floods.