Fresh fruits and vegetables. Breakfast burritos. COVID-19 vaccines. Library cards. Backpacks and school supplies. Bicycle repairs.
The Golden Terrace West Clubhouse turned into a one-stop shop Aug. 12 as Golden United and Hunger Free Golden cohosted an inaugural Resource Fair for mobile home residents.
Golden Terrace, a mobile home park in south Golden, is comprised of three divisions and more than 650 households. More than 100 residents stopped by the new event to pick out free items and connect with their neighbors and community partners.
More than a dozen local nonprofits and government entities set up booths and tables at the Resource Fair, handing out information on everything from housing resources to community policing.
For instance, the Martinez family, who moved to Golden Terrace about a year ago, appreciated the opportunity to grab school supplies for the upcoming year. The family members also liked learning about the Golden Police Department, Jefferson County Public Library and Foothills Animal Shelter.
The family members said it’d be good to host it annually, or more often, to help residents connect with each other and with local resources.
Golden United‘s Kathy Smith, who helped organize the event, said several factors and organizations helped make the new event possible, including a City of Golden special events grant and Jeffco Public Health.
Additionally, the management company partnered with GoFarm to host a mobile market from 2-4 p.m. every other Friday through the end of October, Smith said.
As Smith and members of the Golden Terrace Community Council described, mobile homes make up a large portion of Golden’s naturally occurring affordable housing. Including the RV park, there are 718 homes in the community, they said, and many residents are seniors and other people on fixed incomes.
Taunya Happ, community council president, said Golden Terrace is now home to some Colorado School of Mines students as well.
With so many unique needs and considerations among the residents, the council members were excited to host the Resource Fair and help connect residents with the services, programs and items they need.
For future endeavors, Roberta Walton, council vice president, wanted to connect with resources on home renovation and road maintenance issues like plowing and potholes.
The Golden Terrace Community Council, which is in its third year and has 15 seats, is trying to make the community “livable, safe and healthy,” as Happ described. While the crime rate has gone up in the area, Happ and Walton said making those community connections has helped.
The council hosts regular events and provides information to ensure residents are connected, and that everyone feels welcome and included, Happ and Walton said.
Sonia Sarabia, an engagement consultant with Golden United, helped organize the Aug. 12 Resource Fair, ensuring that all the promotional materials were in English and Spanish. She said there are at least 30 Latino families in Golden Terrace, and she’s been working to connect with them and ensure they’re heard and connected.
Many of those she’s worked with are “not expecting to be noticed,” she said.
“The work I do, I want them to feel like Golden is home, and that they’re wanted,” Sarabia continued.
She, Happ and Walton all believed the Resource Fair was a success, with Sarabia adding, “It’s amazing to see the community getting together as one.”
For more information on Golden Terrace, including additional resources and upcoming events, call 720-663-1675 or email goldenterraceleadership@gmail.com.