Havana BID Rallies Aurora Business Community for Comitis Crisis Center Food Shortage Emergency

AURORA, Colo. - Jan. 2, 2015 - PRLog -- Record cold temperatures in Denver and Aurora the final week of 2014 pushed Comitis Crisis Center, Aurora’s only homeless shelter, to capacity. Food supply was quickly overwhelmed, so it asked the Aurora Police Department and the Havana Business Improvement District (BID) for help. Within 24 hours, Comitis’s cupboards were full. The Havana BID was an acute component of the effort.

“The Havana BID is a respected leader in this community,” said Bob Dorshimer, CEO of Comitis. “We knew once we contacted them, relief would quickly arrive while we worked to maximize the resources we had.”

The Havana BID, aka On Havana Street, reached out to its community through email, phone calls and social media. The BID put out a Facebook message (https://www.facebook.com/OnHavanaStreet) to its more than 2,000 connections stating, “Urgent cold weather need at Comitis Crisis Center: Comitis is stretched to capacity taking people in off the streets in this sub-zero weather,” following with requests for milk, peanut butter and other specific needs. Comments to that post included, “On our way there right now!” and, “We just dropped off some food at the door.”

Lt. Jad Lanigan of the Aurora Police Department praised Havana BID Executive Director Gayle Jetchick for her role in the effort. “Gayle is a true ambassador for the City of Aurora and the Havana Business Corridor,” said Lanigan. “Aurora citizens, employees and businesses came through in a big way.”

Lanigan also called out other “heroes:"

City of Aurora employees including the Aurora Water Department and Aurora IT Department; Paul Suss of Suss Buick GMC; Ed Novak, owner of Summit Steakhouse; and Walid Maaliki of Maaliki Motors all provided cash donations.

Medical Center of Aurora, Highpoint Church, the Aurora Chamber of Commerce, Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar, Rusty Taco, Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard, All Season’s Rent-All and Sam’s No. 3 all provided food.

Additional support was received from Havana Auto Parts and many individual neighbors and community members.

Volunteers, including Jetchick, spent cash donations at Costco, rounding out needs. Mike Naughton of Mike Naughton Ford donated beef in a memorable way—half a cow from Naughton’s ranch. Jetchick recounted, “Lt. Lanigan called Officer Tom Muldoon and asked him to take his squad car over to Naughton Ford to pick up ‘the cow.’  I called Comitis to make sure they had freezer space and could use the beef; they told me the beef was much appreciated since they had only been cooking ‘beans, beans, and more beans.’  I then checked with Naughton Ford, who confirmed two Aurora police officers came to get the side of beef and it just barely fit in the squad car!”

“I’m so proud,” said Dorshimer. “So many community members from the Aurora Community stepped up to meet the need. Within 24 hours, we went from being overwhelmed with need to overwhelmed with gratitude.”

About Havana Business Improvement District

The Havana Business Improvement District (BID) dba On Havana Street is a special district in Colorado created in 2007 by business and neighborhood leaders and Aurora city staff working together to build a stronger, better community. The District makes a difference by focusing on unique, culturally diverse events and fun new things to do and working to keep the area clean, safe and beautiful. For more information please contact Gayle Jetchick, Executive Director info@OnHavanaStreet.com, (303) 360-7505.

About Comitis Crisis Center

The Comitis Crisis Center is Aurora's only homeless shelter. A program of Mile High Behavioral Healthcare, Comitis has served the Aurora Metropolitan community for over 44 years with free services to homeless families, children, and Veterans. The staff stand ready to serve the needs of the homeless community with dignity, respect, and compassion. After all, Comitis means "Friendship." More information: contact James Gillespie, Community Impact and Government Relations Liaison: jgillespie@mhbhc.org or (303)898-5507.