A team of six volunteers from Grand Hyatt Denver recently spent time serving women experiencing homelessness at Catholic Charities Samaritan House 48th, a women-only shelter.
The group, part of the hotel’s events team, helped serve meals and toured the shelter with Chas Canfield, director of Denver shelter operations. During the visit, Chas shared how the shelter operates and offered insight into the circumstances that lead some women to call Samaritan House 48th home.
The shelter provides dome-style, semi-private rooms where women have their own bed and a lockable cupboard to safely store their belongings.
For Heidi Gibson, director of events at Grand Hyatt Denver, the visit was a meaningful opportunity to support the community.
“The events team came to Catholic Charities to help support as much as we can to the community,” Heidi said.
She said the team was moved by the shelter and the care offered there.
“We did a tour of these amazing pods that they have,” Heidi said. “I think it’s such a great organization that you facilitate so that even though you are experiencing homelessness, you can still have dignity and a space to call your own.”
While serving food, Heidi said the group was welcomed with kindness.
“Everyone has been so gracious and so amazing while we’ve been serving food,” she said. “And then everyone’s been so helpful when we run out of random things or we need something.”
For Heidi and her team, the experience reflected the heart of Catholic Charities’ mission: to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ to the poor and those in need, inspired by God’s love and compassion.
“And the whole organization’s been great,” Heidi said. “All the attendees have been great. The whole process is amazing.”
Corporate volunteer groups play an important role in supporting the participants we serve across Catholic Charities ministries. Companies or corporate teams interested in volunteering can learn more at: ccdenver.org/corporate-engagement.