Each fall, local law enforcement and firefighters, connect with needy families through school resource officers. The children go on a shopping trip and to a hearty breakfast with a hero. Heroes for Kids allows $200-$250 per child, to spend on their siblings, parents, friends and grandparents as well as themselves. The children range in age from kindergarten to fifth grade. In fact, most of the shopping trips result in the children unselfishly buying needed items and gifts for their family.

Dispatchers, clerical/records and corrections staff, firefighters/EMS, police officers, deputies, wildlife officers, state patrol and a private fire fighting company have participated over the years as local heroes.

Heroes for kids services families in all of Montrose County Colorado, including Montrose West End (Nucla, Naturita, Bedrock, Redvale 
and Paradox).

If you would like to support this wonderful local program, you can donate through this link. 
The organizers of this program would like to be able to expand their outreach and help more children. As costs rise, only through your generosity, can they make this happen. 

The 7th Judicial Child Advocacy Center dba The Dolphin House is a child-friendly facility whose purpose is to provide child victims a safe, non-threatening place to tell what happened to them during necessary investigations of child abuse. Dolphin House staff offer crisis intervention and ongoing supportive services that help child victims and non-offending family members begin their healing process. The Dolphin House serves Montrose, Delta, Gunnison, San Miguel, Ouray and Hinsdale counties. There are two Dolphin House Endowment funds – operations and capital projects. For more information click here.

The Helping Hand Fund provides a one time only, anonymous charitable assistance to members of the Montrose County communities in need. The Helping Hand Fund provides services that are not available elsewhere and are not duplicated by any other assistance program.  People are able to get rapid assistance for their immediate needs such as – medical supplies, doctor visits, education, limited home repair or anything that will simply make it possible to be self-sufficient and productive in their lives. The Helping Hand Fund cannot be a self referral and applications must come from an agency, case worker, or professional sponsor helping an individual or family.

Since its inception, over $187,000 in basic needs assistance had been granted into the Montrose County communities.

For more information for an agency representing a client, on how to submit a request, or view requirements,
visit our Helping Hand Fund Application for Assistance.
This fund is run solely on community donations.
If you would like to donate to the Helping Hand Fund use this link. A pull down menu of our funds will be available in the process for you to choose which fund to donate to.
You can also write a check to MCF with Helping Hand in your memo line to:
MCF
P.O. Box 3020
Montrose, CO 81402
Or drop by our office at:
15 S. Uncompahgre
Montrose, CO 81401

Kids Aid provides weekend meals to students who struggle with 
food insecurity. 
Run by a team of volunteers, Kids Aid discreetly sends food home in food insecure children’s school back packs on Fridays to make sure they have nurishment on the weekends. 
In Montrose, Kids Aid provides food for over 210 students who might otherwise go hungry. 

MERF was created in 2020 in response to local community needs during the Covid 19 Pandemic. The fund provides flexible resources through grants to local non-profit organizations. These non-profits will be able to provide essential human needs such as food access, rent and utility assistance, plus access to appropriate health care and emergency services for individuals and family impacted by a local disaster. 
The grant and funding will continue to evolve as needs arise in such an event.