CACVT has a campaign to assist local charity groups called CASBOT (Community Assistance Supported By Our Technicians). We gather needed items three times a year at the CVMA Fall Convention (September), the CACVT Focus Conference (January), and at the CACVT Annual Conference (April).

Overview of the Program Veterinary medicine should exist outside the walls of a clinic. It is an important part of the community. After all, it is the community that provides our livelihood. It's gratifying to give back a little.

The group selected to receive our support will be announced before each of our events. CACVT will collect items for the sponsored group during the assigned month. Donations can be dropped off at the CACVT office, given to any Executive Board member, or brought to the event.

Please be generous. Our goal is to assist the community so that more people can be helped by the caring hearts of our wonderful technicians.

Current Recipient Organization - April 2008 Harrison Memorial Animal Hospital (HMAH), www.hmah.org.

HMAH is a program of the Colorado Veterinary Medical Foundation (CVMF). They are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization devoted to enhancing the human-animal relationship by improving the health and well being of animals in need. This special fund will assist income-qualifying individuals in order to pay for medical care for their animals at HMAH.

Each dollar donation received during the month of April will be matched 100% by CACVT.

Make checks payable to CVMF and please write CASBOT/HMAH in the “Memo/For” section of your check/money order. Mail donations to CVMF, 191 Yuma Street, Denver, CO 80223. All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. For more information, contact your tax representative.

If you would like to make a donation via credit card, please contact the CACVT office and we would be glad to assist you. Thank you very much. 

Past Recipient Organizations South West Improvement Council (SWIC)

• SWIC helps residents of Westwood, an impoverished neighborhood in west Denver. Their many programs include affordable housing programs, hot lunches and social events for elders, after-school programs for youth, food for families, clothing, nurse wellness clinics, and more (http://www.swic-denver.org/).
• We collected non-perishable food items and cash donations which were delivered to SWIC on September 26, 2005.
• We received a nice letter from Jan Marie Belle, SWIC director, in acknowledgement of the donations. The letter was printed in the December 2005 Techniques. They were very appreciative.

The Gathering Place

• The Gathering Place is Denver's only daytime drop-in center for women and children who are experiencing homelessness or poverty. It offers a safe daytime refuge where emergency services afford immediate relief to women and children in distress. Once they are able to meet their most pressing needs, they can then take the next steps towards rebuilding their lives (http://www.the-gatheringplace.org/).
• CACVT collected items at the Focus Conference and delivered them to this group in January 2006.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Denver, Inc.

• Being away from home with a seriously ill or injured child is a time filled with many anxieties for families. The high cost of hotel rooms, impossible commutes, sleepless nights in the hospital, and lack of emotional support systems take emotional, physical and financial tolls on families already in crisis.
• That is where the Denver Ronald McDonald House comes in -- a temporary "home-away-from-home" for families to find rest and support.
• The Denver House is an independent, non-profit, locally owned and operated by Ronald McDonald House Charities of Denver, Inc. The House receives no government funding and is entirely dependent on donations from the community.
• The House is located at 1300 East 21st Avenue.
• In Denver, McDonald's Corporation and individual owner/operators generously contribute approximately 20% of the annual operating costs. The rest of the funding is derived through special events and private donations

Food Bank of the Rockies

• This group is well known in the area; they support many people. After the holidays seemed like a good time to support food banks in general (http://www.foodbankrockies.org/).

Community Partnership for Child Development (CPCD)

• CPCD is a non-profit agency serving 1,600 children and their families in El Paso County through four programs: Head Start, Early Head Start, Colorado Preschool Program and Early Childhood Development Program. Their mission is to prepare children for success in school and life by providing excellent comprehensive early childhood services, in partnership with diverse families and the community (http://www.cpcdheadstart.org/).

American Income Life (AIL)

AIL has a food bank which is open to all (some CACVT members have found help here in the past). In January their shelves are depleted from the holidays. So for our Focus Conference, we will be collecting canned items to donate.

Future Recipient Organizations: Who else can we help?

• We are open for suggestions for future groups. If you know of a group in your area in need of assistance, please let the CACVT office know. Please provide as much information as possible on the organization and its needs.
• The CACVT Executive Board will review all proposals and make the final decision.
• Any Colorado organization is eligible.
• Thank you for your participation in this community event.