The Fabulous Me No One was Ready for Christmas that Year

Serving and Supporting
Winter 2014
Phone 303-757-8008
Fax 303-353-8305
www.rup.org
...in as much as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brothers...
No One was Ready for Christmas that Year
by Kate Rose, Community Participation Program Staff Member
Not the bewildered expectant parents. Not the overwhelmed innkeeper who only had
one room left -- the shed in the backyard! The only invitation was a star. But Christmas
happened anyway. The baby was born on cue. The angels invited the shepherds and
the shepherds came with a few of their best behaved sheep. And the foreign dignitaries
showed up in the nick of time with their thoughtful gifts. Even the cow and donkey in the
shed graciously moved over to make room for everybody else.
Christmas is a scramble with family, preparing big dinners, baking dozens of cookies,
honoring traditions and running off to holiday celebrations. Everything so closely held by
the clock. Please remember the merriment, and enjoy the spirit of the celebration.
Roundup
FellowshipServing people
who have
developmental
disabilities,
recognizing
their worth,
affirming
their ability to
contribute,
and striving to
promote dignity
in all
relationships.
Here at Roundup there are parties to plan, trees to decorate, tamales to make, gifts to
buy and presents to wrap. And you -- yes YOU -- are invited to be part of the
merriment. There is always room for one more to take part in the fun. Carolers, story
tellers, cooking a meal or baking some cookies are all things that would enhance our
clients Holiday Season. Call Danni at 303-353-8312 and find out how you can help.
The Fabulous Me
by Maria Moore, Community Participation Program Staff Member
When God made me, He made a masterpiece. You may not see the beauty in me but
I am unique and carefree. I want to be noticed just for the fabulous me. I embrace the
simplicity of life. I’m confident about who I am, I am loved and I give love, I am
assuming that’s why you are staring at me, because you see the beauty or the
fabulous me.
I never ask for much but to be loved unconditionally, so you see, just love me for me.
And if you still love me with all that you see, believe you me, I will show you the
fabulous me. So when I face the world, I face it full speed because being accepted is
never guaranteed. Even though you may not see, I really do inspire you, because I am
fabulous, yes indeed.
Good bye to a House Full of Memories!
This past August, Roundup Fellowship said goodbye to our original house
opened to provide services for children with developmental disabilities in
Denver. St. Paul House closed on August 9th, 2014. The first children with
developmental disabilities moved in during 1976. Our original group of kids
came from the state institution, known at the time as The Ridge Home. Many
of us share so many great memories of the children we provided services. We
had some fun times on excursions around the state and worked to provide
family like opportunities for the children who lived at the house.
Back in those days, we were able to take children home on the holidays if
they had no family to go with. Certain children became a part of the staff’s
extended family. It was the DeNeice family that took on a youngster named
Joe for the holidays. The family included him in their family Christmas Party
including the meals, gifts and fun. It was because of Brent DeNeice that Joe
got to participate in his family celebrations. Mary Anaya took a young lady
named Barbara, a young man named Tony, and a young man named Richard
home for her family celebrations. They might be sleeping on the couch at her
house, but boy did they enjoy the family celebrations! They got to eat lots of
good food, open lots of gifts and become a part of family traditions. Many of
Roundup’s staff, families and friends got involved with the St. Paul House
kids. The children all benefitted from the extra attention and family time.
It isn’t the building, but the people who are in it that make a house a home.
Many kids have lived at St. Paul House since 1976. One of them, Ken,
recently asked Executive Director, Jim Vander Kamp, if he could buy the
house. He asked for time to try and get a loan. It is his only good memory of
his childhood and he has donated needed items to the kids there over the
years. How awesome is it to have someone who liked being at St. Paul House
so much that he would like to buy it to continue to offer services for other kids
that are like him. Ken is sad that “his home” is no longer a part of Roundup.
St. Paul House was built in 1904. Roundup Fellowship originally opened
it in 1974 to serve boys who were in trouble with the law or had been
abused/neglected. It has provided a home for 8 boys with special needs
for 40 years-an estimated 320 boys have called St. Paul House home.
Programs Everyday Wishes
Fortune Circle House
* Funds for outings and activities
Evans House
* Wheelchair-accessible scale to weigh our clients
Roundup School
* Gym equipment
Quivas House
* Entertainment Center without glass
Community Participation Program
* Funds for arts and crafts supplies
* Memberships and tickets for community activities
Personal Care Alternatives Program
* Gift cards to Target & Wal-Mart
Meade House
* Funds for outings and activities
Celebrate With a Plate!
A nourishing meal, shared with friends and family, is a
holiday tradition that makes this season special. But for
many of our residents, the holidays can be a
difficult, lonely time. That’s why we invite you to join us
as we “Celebrate With a Plate”! King Soopers, Safeway
and Target offer holiday group meals starting at $69.99
(feeding up to eight) including turkey/ham, mashed
potatoes, green beans, home-style stuffing, cranberry
and walnut relish, gravy, dinner rolls and pie. If you
would like to sponsor a holiday meal or an everyday bag
of groceries for Evans, Fortune, Meade or Quivas Group
Homes please contact Danni at 303-353-8312.
We are also having a Holiday Pantry Collection for our Group Homes on December 17th. Create a competition at
your office or make it a family and friends effort. Every donation is appreciated! Roundup’s main office at 3443 So.
Galena Street, Suite 310 in Denver and Roundup School at 2121 East LaSalle, Suite 100 in Colorado Springs.
10 Most needed everyday items
* Meat or Fish (tuna and other canned meats)
* Soup
* Canned Fruits and Vegetables
* Peanut Butter and Jelly
* Pasta
* Milk Products (milk, cheese and yogurt)
* Grain Products (brown rice, breads and buns, bagels,
pancake and muffin mixes).
* Cereal (boxed cereal, oatmeal)
Non-food Items
Toiletries, including deodorant, soap, shampoo, toilet
tissue, toothpaste and toothbrushes, shaving products.
Other non-food items needed are cleaning and laundry
supplies.
Crafts, tickets for community activities, zoo and
museum memberships are welcome. Anything that
could be therapeutic and fun! Gas and home
improvement gift cards help too.
The Benefits of a Supportive Community
Connector: The Story of Roger and John
Roger is resident of our Quivas apartment program. He came to Roundup
Fellowship after living most of his life at Wheat Ridge Regional Center. When
Roger moved into Quivas he did not have the ability to verbally communicate his
wants and needs. He could not tolerate going out into the community and was
very easily agitated by noise and crowds. He often became very frustrated and
would slap himself in the face, throw cups and head butt staff members. It has
taken time and patience to get Roger out and involved in the neighborhood.
Recently, John, a longtime staff member of Roundup, became Roger’s one to
one support person. John had known of Roger from his past work at Wheat Ridge Center. John is very easygoing,
supportive, and fun to be around. He has been working on building Roger’s tolerance for being in different situations
in the community. He goes with John to the recreation center, bowling, the Farmer’s Market, the Train Museum,
restaurants and more. This is a huge accomplishment for Roger.
Roger has grown more expressive, mouthing words and shaking his head for “yes”. He has his own way of
communicating through sounds and signs. He is accomplishing so much more on his own at home and in the
community. He will give John a high five when asked. When John leaves at the end of the day, Roger follows him
out to his truck and often hugs him goodbye. John stated that while Roger lived in the state institution, he was never
given any affection. He has had to learn to accept a hug or a handshake.
John’s dream is to take Roger on a vacation some day. He would like to start out with a short trip to Pueblo for an
overnight and then build up to a trip to New Mexico. Roger has never been on a vacation.
Non-Profit Org.
US Postage
PAID
3443 South Galena St., Suite 310
Denver, CO 80231
Denver, CO
Permit No. 1188
For I know the plans I have for you,
declares the Lord,
plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, December 17
Tuesday, December 9
10:00 am-3:00pm
Please support the people we serve
at Roundup on Colorado Gives Day!
Holiday Pantry Collection
Roundup Fellowship Main Office
3443 S. Galena St., Suite 310
Denver, CO 80231
Roundup School (until 2:30 pm)
2121 E. LaSalle, Suite 100
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
We will be collecting donations of food,
toiletries and household items for Quivas,
Fortune, Evans and Meade Group Homes.
For details please call 303-353-8312.
Sponsor a prepared
Christmas Dinner for one of our group
homes for as little as $69
from King Soopers.
For additional information call
303.353.8312
Colorado Gives Day
Roundup Fellowship
2014 Board of Directors
Ed Schans-President
For the fifth year, Community First
Foundation and FirstBank are partnering to
present Colorado Gives Day on Tuesday,
December 9, 2014.
Andy Tjeerdsma-Treasurer
Colorado Gives Day is an annual statewide
movement to celebrate and increase
philanthropy in Colorado through online
giving. For the first time ever, it
features a $1 Million Incentive Fund
created by the partners, one of the largest
gives-day incentive funds in the country.
Rod Oosterhouser
Lori Plucker-Secretary
Melissa Luzzi
Carol Osborn-Parent
Andy Plucker
E. Wolf Thompson
James Vander Kamp,
Executive Director
Roundup Fellowship
3443 S. Galena St., Suite 310
Denver, CO 80231
303.757.8008 www.rup.org