Disaster recovery center help

There’s a hidden gem inside the Disaster Recovery Center near downtown Colorado Springs. It’s a place to help ease the emotional trauma for kids who are fire survivors. This sounds like child’s play, but it’s very adult and very compelling for children.

16 year old Rachel Sanders is one of the volunteers at the facility stocked with toys, coloring books and games for children. She tells me, “It’s been very stressful for them and just for them to hang out and listen to music is important.” Sanders also says, “The kids know it’s going to be okay and come here because it’s a safe place to be.”

There are nearly 26 help agencies with representatives waiting to help adults and children. So far, nearly 300 families have come through to make contact with those agencies, ask questions and figure out what’s next for them.

The Disaster Recovery Center is open from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., seven days a week. It will be open from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m, on the July 4th Holiday. The center is in the El Paso Department of Human Services building at 105 North Spruce Street.