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DENVER — As we reflect on the year, our staff at Denver7 is overwhelmed by the generosity of our viewers. This year we launched the Contact7 Gives fund with the help of the Scripps Howard Foundation.
One of our first stories was about a woman who continued to inspire us and maintain a positive attitude in the face of enormous adversity. We first met Kristen Bering in 2018 after her apartment building was destroyed in a fire. Over the next year, we stayed in touch with Bering and learned she desperately needed a handicap accessible van.
Viewers stepped up and donated to Contact7 Gives in Bering's name. Those donations were used to purchase new clothes and school supplies for her fifth-grade son.
That was just the beginning, Denver7 started working with the Used Car Dealers of Colorado Charity Fund to see if there was any way to get a new van. Donations helped pay for a portion of the van when a previous owner offered to sell it at a price that the charity could afford. A company called AutoTrek also offered to do the reconditioning work for free before sending it to a third party in order to conduct a safety inspection.
On August 15, Denver7 and other partners surprised Bering with the van. She said the van has been life-changing, and she's thankful for everyone who had a hand in donating it.
Here's a look at some of the other ways Contact7 Gives is continuing to help the community through your kindness.
We closed out the year by responding to a shortage at Toys for Tots. Through donations to Contact7 Gives, we were able to purchase more than $2,000 worth of toys, and when Walmart heard about what we were doing, they chipped in $500.
You can visit this page for more information about Contact7 Gives and to learn how you can donate. One hundred percent of contributions to the fund will be used to help people in our local community.
