Winter Break Resources for Students
As we approach Winter Break, The Dean of Students Office would like to share helpful information and community resources. Below you will find a list of resources with information, support, direction, and reassurance that there is always help for those seeking it. These places also welcome volunteers. We want you to enjoy your well-deserved break and return rested for Spring Semester.
The Dean of Students Office assists our students with various concerns by working directly with you and connecting you to appropriate resources on or off campus. Please let us know how we can support you!
The ACC Dean of Students Office: acc [dot] dos [at] arapahoe [dot] edu (acc[dot]dos[at]arapahoe[dot]edu) or 303.797.5730.
Mental Health Resources
Stress? Depressed? Anxious? Self-care is essential to your everyday success, and taking care of your mental health can make an enormous difference. Here are some national and local resources for mental health.
- Mental Health and Counseling: ACC has 2 counselors on campus you can schedule appointments to meet in person or virtually at a time that fits your schedule.
- We also have an agreement with our online counseling vendor BetterMynd to have students engage with a different counselor who offers more availability outside the typically 8am - 5pm Monday-Friday schedule. The first 6-8 sessions are free for students; however, we are able to be flexible and add more sessions to students who may need additional support.
- Crisis Text Line: 741-741 Crisis Text Line serves anyone in any crisis, providing access to free, 24/7 support and information via text. Simple text 741-741 from anywhere in the USA, anytime, about any crisis. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds quickly, helping you “move from a hot moment to a cool moment.”
- Colorado Crisis Services: 1.844.493.TALK (8255) This is a local Colorado resource for mental health support. Talk to a training crisis counselor at 1.844.493.8255 or text “TALK” to 38255. Check out their website for online chat options and 24/7 walk-in centers near you.
Holiday and Winter Break Food Resources
- Volunteers Of America Colorado
2877 Lawrence St – Denver, CO 80205 Contact: 303.297.0408
Information: Provides Christmas dinner basket vouchers for Christmas meals. Christmas Baskets will consist of non-perishable food, produce, and bread. - Denver Rescue Mission - Holiday Banquet
2222 Lawrence St Denver CO 80204 Contact: 303.313.2456
Information: Offers hot holiday meals to families and single adults
Area Served: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin, and more. - Servicios De La Raza - Christmas Dinner & Holiday Basket
3131 W 14th Ave Denver CO 80204 Contact: 303.458.5851
Offers Christmas food baskets on a first-come, first-served basis. Wednesday, December 21, 2022, 9am (while supplies last) - Colfax Community Network
1585 Kingston St, Aurora, CO Contact: 303.360.0627
Area Served: Arapahoe, Adams Counties
Information: Offers a Christmas meal and an opportunity for parents to “shop” for children’s Christmas gifts and wrap those gifts. - Afterhours Denver
1449 Lincoln St - Denver County Contact: 303.884.1249
Information: Provides the following: Sleeping bags, Coats, Backpacks, Hygiene kits, Underwear, Socks, and Other cold-weather clothing. Hours: December 25, 2022, Saturday, 8am - 1:30pm
Holiday Family Support for Gifts / Toys
- Salvation Army Denver - 4505 W Alameda Ave, Denver, CO
Contact: 303.295.3366 (Call Center)
Information: Families with children aged 12 or younger.
Area Served: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas Country, and More. - Denver Inner City Parish -1212 Mariposa Street, Denver, CO
Contact: 303.629.0636
Information: Statewide Offers a waitlist to the public for Holiday gifts and toys. - Toys for Tots
Area Served: Arapahoe, Douglas, and Denver Counties.
Basic Needs Support
Cold? Hungry? Need additional support? In need of Shelter or housing and basic needs assistance? Here are some resources designed to help those in need have a warm place to stay and access to essential services.
- Substance Use Support - Boca Recovery Center is a Substance Use Disorder program providing excellence in the medical and clinical treatment of drug and alcohol addiction and co-occurring mental health issues.
- Food Bank of the Rockies provides a comprehensive list of local food pantries on its website, including mobile food pantries.
- Need additional or continued support and resources for Child Care, Health Services, Basic Needs, or Employment assistance.
- Call or visit the Colorado 211 line! 2-1-1 Colorado streamlines services and provides one central location where people can connect to their needed resources.
- Check out Integrated Family Services. IFCS provides basic human services and enrichment programs to low-income people, using community resources, including a food pantry and bill payment assistance. In addition, they provide comprehensive support for residents of western Arapahoe and southwest Denver neighborhoods.
- The Life Center of Littleton has a food pantry and additional wrap-around services for people in the Littleton area needing support with basic needs and housing insecurity.
- The Help and Hope Center services Douglas and Elbert Counties with basic needs support. They have a team of client advocates to support individuals with various services.
Entertainment, Stress Relief, or Some Fun Distraction
Feeling festive but want to save money? Check out the various holiday activities for free throughout Colorado, and check out these links for some fun and mindful distraction and activities.
- Sporcle: Various Interactive Trivia games and quizzes you can play alone or with others. A great way to learn and keep your mind full of new facts.
- Insight Timer: Insight Timer is an app and website designed to help make meditation and yoga convenient, easy, and pleasant.
- Scream into the Void: A website where you type your thoughts out, and then at the click of a button, those thoughts turn into an anonymous scream into the void. You should click it for fun 😊
- Find the Invisible Cow: What a way to spend time! Find the inviable cow by following the audio cues. The Invisible Cow website is worth checking out and getting a good giggle or distraction.
Happy Holidays! Remember, we are here for you!
The Dean of Students Office assists our students with various concerns by working directly with you and connecting you to appropriate resources on or off campus. We are also a resource for faculty, staff, parents, families, and friends, working together to serve our students. Please let us know how we can support you!
The ACC Dean of Students Office
acc [dot] dos [at] arapahoe [dot] edu
303.797.5730