Pueblo United: Services for the People
Pueblo United’s Toy Drive and Raffle Giveaway is one of many ways the charitable organization serves the local community.
During the December holiday season, Pueblo United is hosting a Toy Drive and Raffle Giveaway. Before Dec. 18, community members may drop off a toy for children aged 0-17 at one of eight locations:
Pueblo United
615 E. 5th St.
Mozo’s Great American Heroes
1904 Lake Ave.
Victory Life Ministries
2315 Sprague Ave.
Yandi Cakrasenjaya LMT
359 E. Enterprise Dr. Suite 7, Pueblo West
Club Ice
2430 Lake Ave
Phoenix Rising Insurance
503 N. Main St. Suite 501
Cookies Dispensary
3003 W. Northern Ave.
Wilcoxson Buick-GMC Trucks, Inc.
902 N. Santa Fe Ave.
Pueblo United was started by Kevin and Mitzy Howard after a bonfire conversation among friends.
“The pandemic had took place and we noticed the suffering and the great need for things; businesses closing their doors, families getting laid off from their jobs due to the pandemic,” Kevin said. “We started out as a business supporter trying to keep businesses from being closed and jobs from being lost.”
“We actually managed to save a few businesses doing that; working with them, doing the things we did to keep their doors open,” Kevin said. “Bring the community back to them to let the community know that ‘Hey, even though this is going on, we are still here for you and that’s exactly how it got started.”
Pueblo United has since expanded its services anywhere a need can be found in the community. Through a sponsorship with United Way of Pueblo County, the organization’s Rehoming Pueblo’s Homeless Project remodels donated recreational vehicles and gives them to those in need of shelter. The project also helps homeless individuals and families find work.
“We fix them up with a job with some of the business owners that we work with and help them move in the right direction as to getting their life back on track,” Kevin said.
In addition to RVs, Pueblo United accepts furniture and appliance donations. Donations are given to anyone in need, free of charge.
“We offer help with furniture at no cost to the community,” Kevin said. “If they move into a new place and they can’t afford anything to get them moving forward in their residence, we help them out with that at no cost… Everything that we do has no cost to the community at all.”
For the past two years, Pueblo United has also held a free Halloween “Trunk or Treat” celebration for the community complete with pizza, music, games and plenty of candy. In November, the organization holds a Turkey Drive to help out with Thanksgiving meals.
For more information about Pueblo United including information about upcoming projects, donations and other inquiries, community members can contact Pueblo United through the E. 5th Street location between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., the Pueblo United Facebook page, by email at pueblounited719@gmail.com or by calling (719) 696-8586.
“If it’s donations like food, furniture, appliances and stuff like that, they can just contact us on our business phone or they can come to our location or we can actually go and schedule a pickup with them; actually go out, pick it up ourselves and take it to our locations,” Kevin said.