COAL CREEK CANYON - Canyon Cares, which provides financial assistance for area residents, hosted a casserole potluck at the Coal Creek Canyon Improvement Association Hall on Sunday, October 12, 2025, from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Organizer Melisa Toubel invited area residents to bring a dish to share…and they did.

The Hall had two tables and the kitchen counter full of casseroles. When guests entered, they could fill out a name tag with their home state. Another table held boxes with state names, and guests were encouraged to drop some bills in a box to help give their favorite Midwest state a vote.

In addition to the food, there were games such as a dice game, Shake the Day, and cards. A football game was showing on the Hall’s large television.

Orgnizer Melisa Toubel said she is from Wisconsin, and potlucks are a big deal there. They thought this would be fun, and every dollar raised goes to Canyon Cares.

CCCIA Treasurer Chuck Berginc said Canyon Cares provides financial assistance for people in Coal Creek Canyon and down Highway 119 from Ward and Nederland to Central City and Black Hawk.

The idea is that maybe sometimes things are going well for you and then a vehicle breaks down or something else happens to create a crisis. That’s when Canyon Cares can help.

People could donate via Venmo or PayPal. If they were interested in donating for victims of the recent fire in Nederland, they could just put in “Ned Fire,” and the funds will get to them.

Berginc said Canyon Cares gave out $124,000 last year. He said they don’t help businesses; they just help the people.

For more information go to https://www.coalcreekcanyon.org/businesses/canyon-cares,  or email canyoncares.org@gmail.com. Mail to Box 7392, Golden, CO 80403. The CCCIA Hall is at 31528 Highway 72.