IFCS BLOG
Service “from Scratch”
IFCS (Integrated Family Community Services) provides basic human services for families and individuals with the goal of self-sufficiency. We provide financial assistance, seasonal meal support, school supplies, holiday gift assistance, and other resources as well as vouchers for local recreation centers. Since 1964 we have supported the Denver metro area; through the loyal support of volunteers, community partners, corporate sponsors, and numerous generous donors, we have remained open and continually adapting to current needs.
This blog is a glimpse into the “secret ingredients” that have built our nonprofit “from scratch,” and continue to make IFCS into what we hope will be a lasting, valued resource for the community. Thank you for being a part of IFCS!
The Perfect Pairing II: Gala Contributions of All Sizes
Our February fundraiser, Nibbles & Sips, may be behind us, but it’s not too soon to be thinking about ways you can support this event—as well as other IFCS programs—during the coming year. In our most recent blog entry, we featured a Nibbles & Sips Table Captain and Corporate sponsor; these event supporters make substantial financial donations to IFCS. In
The Perfect Pairing: Nibbles & Sips Supporters for a Cause
It’s the happiest time of year for IFCS as we prepare for our annual Nibbles & Sips fundraising gala. For over a decade, the community has gathered for a hoot of a good time, complete with food and beverage tasting, auction games, and a live and silent auction. The benefit? Keeping IFCS’ life-changing services available for another year. The 2025
A Dash of Chaos, A Pinch of Purpose: Renovating for Change
Have you seen orange cones and heavy equipment on our property? Have you needed to adapt your schedule to accommodate our renovation projects? Yes, IFCS is under construction. Thanks to Arapahoe County’s selection of IFCS for a Community Development Block Grant, dedicated funding for public improvement through Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is allowing us to make some long overdue
Serving Up Holiday Cheer: Heroes with Helping Hands
It’s the season of giving and IFCS is ready to provide holiday cheer to those who need a little extra help this time of year! After packing and distributing 500 seasonal food boxes at Fresh Thanks in late November, IFCS enters crunch time to finalize preparations for the annual Helping Hands for the Holidays gift distribution, which occurs just two
A Buffet of Help: Additional Local Resources
Since its foundation in 1964, IFCS has become a vital source of support for the community. Many local residents visit IFCS regularly, but each week there are also newcomers seeking help for the first time, who may be unfamiliar with IFCS’ services. When arriving at the Market @ IFCS, visitors are greeted by a team of volunteers, and newcomers are
The Journey of a Meal: Where Does IFCS’ Food Come From?
When someone visits The Market at IFCS looking for food assistance, they can expect to be greeted by our friendly volunteers, potentially speak with a bilingual Resource Navigator, and by the end of their visit, leave with a bounty of nutritious ingredients—such as frozen meat, eggs and fresh produce—to feed their family with. But this journey of a meal from
Feeding the Future: Students Who Give Back
As the new school year is just around the corner, high school and college students are collecting their school supplies and considering the list of classes and activities they need to graduate and prepare for their future. For many, completing school community service hours is a major part of that to-do list. Meet Valeria Miranda, IFCS Participant-Turned-Volunteer For Valeria,
60 Years Strong: A Look Back with IFCS’ Executive Director
Integrated Family Community Services has served millions of people over the past six decades. The organization has made significant contributions and has evolved over time to meet the needs of the community it serves. Sandra Blythe-Perry has been IFCS’ Executive Director since 1997 and has seen and directed much of this evolution firsthand. In an interview, she unpacked IFCS’ 60
Summer is in Full Swing, but Hunger Doesn’t Take a Holiday!
Summer is here in beautiful Colorado. With it, families are going on vacation, gardening projects have begun in earnest, and outdoor activities are in full swing. Summer break means schools are closed and the regular meals some kids depend upon are gone. In Colorado, 42% of K-12 students are eligible for free or reduced lunch programs. Without school in session,
Ready, Set, School: Littleton Elks Support Local Students
Graduations are well under way and, while students and teachers head into a much-deserved summer break, the team at IFCS is focused on preparations for the coming school year! Ready, Set, School! is an IFCS’ enrichment program that offers seasonal assistance to low-income households. This year, Ready, Set, School! will provide new backpacks full of grade-appropriate school supplies to 303
Garden Planning: Grow an Extra Row of Hope!
Spring has sprung, the snow is melting in the Mountains, the flowers are blooming on the Front Range, birds are returning for the summer, and I may burst into song! This month’s blog post is a fun one for me. It is about fresh garden produce donated to IFCS each summer and the special people who grow it. Even you
60 Years of Nourishing Hope: IFCS’ Best Nibbles & Sips Ever
In February, Integrated Family Community Services (IFCS) marked a significant milestone. Celebrating their 60th year, IFCS has provided vital support to those in need through its food pantry and assistance programs since 1964. Made extra special by the occasion, the annual fundraiser Nibbles & Sips exceeded all expectations, and united the community in the spirit of generosity and compassion. Don’t
“Essential Ingredients”: Continuing the Legacy
2024 is IFCS’ 60th anniversary! This is a celebratory time as we prepare for the highly anticipated Nibbles & Sips gala, which will take place on February 24, 2024 from 5:00-8:30 pm at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center. “Drinking good wine with good food in good company is one of life’s most civilized pleasures.” Nibbles & Sips embodies this
The Human Touch
Today I am happy to introduce you to one of IFCS’ Corporate Partners: Empower. In this blog entry I share what I learned about this company through interviewing two Empower employees, named “associates,” Damian Bulf and Grace Randazzo, about their involvement with IFCS. Empower associates have a huge heart for community outreach and invest a lot of time, money, and
Adding in Protein
To keep IFCS running takes an incredible amount of volunteers and donors. If you read my previous two blog entries, you know that IFCS is a bustling market providing food assistance, and that support from the community keeps IFCS moving forward. Every collaborator plays an important role in alleviating hunger. In this entry, we’ll take a close look at one
IFCS’ Main Ingredient: Community
Hello! Today I am revisiting IFCS’ fresh food Market and would like to tell you more about what is happening here. Going behind the scenes, I was able to see things that aren’t visible to the public: there’s a lot to be excited about! During Todd McPherson’s video tour of the Market at IFCS (which I shared about in my
Starting “from Scratch” in 1964
Today I went undercover to discover some of the secret ingredients behind the successful food bank of Integrated Family Community Services Market. As some of you know, I live up in the mountains near Monarch Ski Resort so Todd McPherson (Development Director) gave me a virtual tour around The Market via his mobile phone. It was fun to be able
Introducing IFCS’ Blog
Hello! I’m Kathryn Adams, a Nurse Freelance Writer who started my career as a Firefighter EMT-B, then RN, and transitioned to professional writing. I grew up volunteering with my mom as a Girl Scout at a local food kitchen for the homeless. This childhood experience initiated a Iife commitment to noticing inequities around me, and the desire to contribute to
