The Matthews House, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth and families, is thrilled to announce a significant, five-year collaboration with Nutrien, the world’s largest provider of crop inputs and services. The strategic collaboration commenced in January 2024 and will play a pivotal role in advancing The Matthews House’s mission to disrupt the cycles of poverty and abuse in Northern Colorado.
Expanding Reach with Northern Colorado Regional Youth Shelter
In response to the pressing needs of the community, The Matthews House is launching the Northern Colorado Regional Youth Shelter in 2024. This transformative initiative addresses the alarming reality that more than 400 unaccompanied youth who are homeless on their own without parents or guardians, as well as 1,200 accompanied youth, are experiencing homelessness in Northern Colorado. The collaboration brings together the Poudre and Thompson school districts, in addition to numerous nonprofits, with The Matthews House taking the lead role as the sole operator of the shelter.
Nutrien: Kitchen Sponsor for Youth Shelter and Fort Collins Drop-In Center
Nutrien has generously stepped forward as the kitchen sponsor for both the Northern Colorado Regional Youth Shelter and The Matthews House’s Fort Collins drop-in center, which is slated to open its doors in March 2024. The relationship with Nutrien not only ensures the sustenance of these critical facilities, but it also underscores Nutrien’s commitment to making a positive impact in the communities it serves.
“The foundation for a successful day, especially for children in school, is nutritious food,” says Rob Clayton, senior vice president of Retail North America for Nutrien’s retail division, Nutrien Ag Solutions. “As part of the Northern Colorado community and in accordance with our purpose of feeding the future, we feel a responsibility to ensure that our neighbors who have fallen on hard times can have access to meals that can help keep them healthy, full and focused on work and school without the added stress of not knowing when or where their next meal may be.”
A Shared Commitment to Community Well-being
“We are excited about the transformative possibilities that this relationship brings,” says Nicole Armstrong, executive director at The Matthews House. “Nutrien’s support as the kitchen sponsor will enable us to provide nutritious meals and a warm environment for the youth at our shelter and the visitors to our drop-in center. Together, we are disrupting the cycles of poverty and abuse, creating lasting change in the lives of those we serve.”