Coloradans Pledge $1M In Personal Stimulus Dollars To Help Others

DENVER, CO — More than 2,000 people in Colorado have pledged to contribute some of their federal stimulus checks to those who are struggling amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Over $1 million has been pledged.

The Share the Stimulus initiative was created by leaders of nonprofit organizations in Denver as a way to get people thinking about how to help others during the crisis. People who have steady employment and stable finances are asked to pledge a portion of their stimulus funds to help those who don't have stable incomes.

Adam Bailon signed the pledge to help a community that's struggling.

“Our family decided to give most of our check to an organization directly supporting undocumented folks in our area who didn't qualify for stimulus money," Bailon said. "We believe strongly that immigrants are a blessing to our country, and we wanted to put our privilege to work for marginalized folks."

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Hundreds of members at Flatirons Community Church jumped on board to help other community members.

“In a time when the world is in desperate need, now is not the time to say ‘more stuff for me’…and say, ‘Okay, how can I help in this COVID-19 world?’” said Jim Burgen, the church's senior pastor.

To join the initiative, people are asked to encourage people "in a sphere of influence" to give a portion of stimulus money to a person(s) or organization of their choice, organizers said. Then make a donation directly to a person, family or nonprofit, and share the amount pledged and a brief story of how the donation met a need or encouraged someone at ShareTheStimulus.org.

Jeff Haanen, a co-founder of the Share The Stimulus movement, said the initiative was also created to spread good news and lift people's spirits. He and his wife shared their stimulus money with a coworker’s family and a single mother of four children who lost their jobs during the pandemic, a church benevolence fund and City Unite. Others have reported giving to house cleaners, refugees, gym owners, the homeless, local and international nonprofits and faith-based organizations.

ShareTheStimulus.org offers a free downloadable toolkit that includes talking points, social media images and materials that people can "tailor to encourage doing good in the community," organizers said.