For more than 50 years, Mountain Valley Developmental Services (MVDS) has been shaping stronger, more inclusive communities in Colorado’s Garfield, Pitkin, Eagle and Lake Counties. Since 1973, MVDS has supported individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities as they learn, work and live with independence. 

That mission got a boost through a $25,000 Community Giving Grant from Black Hills Energy, awarded to support MVDS’s Cozy Home Project. “We are so excited to be receiving this grant award from Black Hills Energy,” said MVDS Executive Director Sara Sims. The Cozy Home Project will use those funds for improvements that make a real difference in comfort, safety and quality of life for the residents of MVDS’s housing.

Image

The first phase is taking place at the Oakhurst House in Glenwood Springs, the oldest of MVDS’s 10 group homes. Built in 1974, Oakhurst provides housing for adult participants who rely on MVDS for stable, supportive living environments. With support from Black Hills Energy, MVDS will replace 18 single-pane windows with new, annealed, Low-E glass windows designed to reflect heat and improve energy efficiency. These upgrades, and others like them, will help make the home more sustainable while making daily life more comfortable for residents.

“I wouldn’t say that raising money to maintain houses is necessarily the flashiest, but it’s necessary,” said MVDS Developmental Director Maura Masters. “How we measure that is by our participants’ smiling faces and their ability to live at ease in their homes, so Cozy Home will spruce up the different places they live.”

The Cozy Home Project reflects the broader MVDS commitment to the people they serve, from young children receiving early intervention services to adults building skills, employment. Through residential enrichment, employment and early intervention programs, MVDS works alongside individuals and families at every stage of life.

Community partnerships make this work possible. In addition to Black Hills Energy, support for the Cozy Home Project also comes from the Clear Energy Economy for the Region, the Rotary Club of Glenwood Springs and Defiance Thrift Stores, MVDS also collaborates with more than 50 businesses throughout the valley, connecting individuals with meaningful employment and giving employers the opportunity to become active partners in inclusion. The people supported by MVDS are often underappreciated, but they’re an essential part of the local workforce, and contribute to the region every day.

Image

At its heart, the Cozy Home Project is about more than energy efficient windows or home improvement. It’s about community members coming together to help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities live comfortably, confidently and with pride in the places they call home.

Community support, involvement and shared responsibility are key to MVDS’s mission, and Black Hills Energy is proud to be a part of making the Cozy Home Project a success.