Urban Peak Denver

Urban Peak helps homeless youth and youth at risk of being homeless by providing essential services and a supportive community, empowering them to become self-sufficient adults

Help support the homeless and at-risk youth and young adults at Urban Peak in a meaningful and rewarding way by being a meal volunteer! This is a great service opportunity for an individual or a small group. The meal you prepare and serve will demonstrate to the youth that the community cares for them and supports their efforts to become independent and self-sufficient. By preparing and serving a meal you help the Urban Peak staff by allowing them to focus their time and energy into other relevant needs the youth have. If you or your group donates the food for the meal, you help the finances of Urban Peak to be utilized in other vital programs.

Concern among members of Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood regarding increased numbers of homeless youth,
- Urban Peak was founded in 1988 and has expanded over the years to meet the changing needs of our community. Urban Peak offers a full array of supportive services including a street outreach program; a 40-bed overnight shelter; basic services such as nutritious meals, clothing and hygiene products; case management; a GED program; job skills and job placement; a medical clinic; and financial assistance for higher education. Urban Peak has remained unique for its focus on the homeless youth population, serving youth aged from 15-21 and operating the only licensed homeless youth shelter in the state of Colorado.

In 1998 and 1999 respectively, Urban Peak established two affiliate organizations: Urban Peak Housing Corporation (UPHC) and Urban Peak Colorado Springs (UPCS). UPHC focuses its efforts on developing housing options for homeless youth and operates 24 units of housing. UPCS, with support of the American Red Cross and Marian House, opened and began providing services in December 2000.

Volunteer needs: 1)Groups of 2-6 individuals to prepare and serve a meal at the Shelter. Breakfast is served from 6:30am - 8:30am. Thursday breakfast is served from 7:30am -9:30am. Lunch is served from 11:30am-1:30pm. 2) Wish List donation drives. Please visit www.urbanpeak.org to see the most current wish list items.

Three Ways to Serve as a Meal Volunteer

1. Prepare and Serve: Using the food and the planned menu at the Shelter or SPOT to prepare and serve the meal you have volunteered for.
2. Donate & Serve: You will plan the meal and purchase/donate the food needed for the meal you have volunteered to prepare and serve.   Catered meals or food prepared/cooked off site is allowed as long as accepted food handling and safety precautions have been taken. In all cases, food must be packed and transported appropriately, with food safety in mind.