This year marks the 20th anniversary of Canyon Cares!  Founded in 2006 by a small group of Coal Creek Canyon residents committed to ensuring that neighbors facing unexpected hardship had somewhere to turn for help has since expanded its service area to include Coal Creek Canyon, Rollinsville, Black Hawk, Central City, Nederland, and communities throughout Gilpin County and western Boulder County.

Canyon Cares is a grassroots organization fiercely committed to providing direct community support. In 2025, the organization assisted 143 households with $169,830 in funding for essential expenses such as rent, utilities, vehicle repairs, and medical bills - often preventing a temporary hardship from becoming a long-term crisis.

Our work is made possible through the generosity of county partners, local businesses, and individual donors. Canyon Cares is especially grateful for long-standing support from Gilpin County and United Power, both of which have supported the organization since its early days. This past January, the Gilpin County Board of Commissioners contributed $10,000 in support.  In 2025, the United Power Round Up Foundation provided $42,500 in utility assistance for Canyon Cares applicants, while the Rocky Mountain Warm Hands Initiative granted us $18,273 to help residents secure firewood during the winter months. 

No one ever thinks hard times will come knocking at their door until it does.  Last year, 51% of total revenue to Canyon Cares came from individual donations – a true testament of our community’s commitment to neighbors helping neighbors. Additionally, community-driven fundraising efforts from local businesses such as Ace Hardware’s annual round-up campaign and Busey Brews’ trivia nights provide a convenient way for their patrons to donate.

Following the devastating Caribou Village fire last October, Canyon Cares received donations designated specifically to assist fire victims. Contributions included $37,207 from Eldora’s Ashes to Action campaign and $3,942 from Namaste Solar’s annual Community Profit Sharing program.

Partnerships with other organizations further extend Canyon Care’s impact. We regularly collaborate with Ermel’s, the Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA), and Nederland’s Housing and Human Services program to ensure that residents can access the maximum scope of resources available to them.

We invite the community to join us in celebrating our 20th anniversary …a milestone that reflects the organization’s growth and the enduring generosity of our mountain community. “We are deeply grateful to the donors, grantors, and partners who make this work possible,” said Karen Siefert, President of Canyon Cares Board of Directors. “For 20 years, Canyon Cares has been about neighbors helping neighbors—and that spirit continues to sustain our mountain communities.”