With a growing number of clients, YourHub.com's Community Giving winner in Longmont hopes to use the $1,000 grant it won in our recent contest for general fund purposes, most likely to continue buying down the rents for homeless individuals and families.

The Inn Between of Longmont, Inc. is a transitional housing facility serving homeless individuals and families in the St. Vrain Valley with a primary goal of establishing self sufficiency. In the last five years, the Inn has almost doubled the size - growing from 31 apartments to 51 apartments that are offered to people in temporary need of housing and a helping hand up in life.

"I think the important thing about the Inn Between is that we provide training in parenting, life skills, ... consumer credit. We teach them the skills so that they can transition out in the community and not be in the position again," said Donna Lovato, who has been the the Inn's executive director for 11 years. "Everything costs, we also provide dinner for our families and daycare so that they can go to these meeting. But I think that's what makes us different."

Also coming before the holidays, the grant is important to the Inn, which makes sure that all its residents receive at least one gift and have the opportunity to attend holiday parties.

"We were estatic," said volunteer Connie Wilcox, who wrote the YourHub.com story that earned the Inn Between the YourHub.com grant. "It could not have come at a better time. Most nonprofits felt the pinch about two years ago, but we didn't. But this year has been like no other year (in difficulty finding funds.)"

"It definitely came at a good time," Wilcox added.

Formed in 1993, the Inn is based in the former Great Western Hotel at 250 Kimbark St.

When Lavota heard residents whispering that there might be ghost at the Great Western Hotel, she assured them, "We do not have ghosts at the Inn, we have angels."

In the 13 years the Inn has been around that has often proved true with donations and gifts often coming from the community at the time they were needed most, Wilcox said.

The Inn Between was created by 23 local human service agencie to combat homelessness in 1993. Today, eight St. Vrain Valley agencies refer clients to what will soon be more than 50 units at the facilities provided by the Inn Between. Everyone who lives at the Inn must work or be enrolled in school unless they are disabled and are eligible to stay there for a maximum of two years. About half of the tenants are under age 18.

The holidays are a magical time at the Inn, Wilcox said. Last year, individuals and groups from the community adopted families or group of individuals at the Inn, providing gifts to the tenants. Hopes are high that the local community will once again come through to help with presents.

Around YourHub.com healthier teeth, more well-clothed babies, safer hours after school, more shelter for those in need were among the goals of the 15 local nonprofits that won $1,000 grants through the YourHub.com Community Giving program.

In the program's debut, we received more than 500 nominations from our readers and nonprofit volunteers, donors, board members, employees and clients. These nominations included great stories and photos that helped us understand how outstanding organizations have made an impact. You can imagine the difficult time we had selecting only 15 groups to receive a grant.

We congratulate the nominators and the organizations that will continue to be able to make a difference close to home. They are (click on the nonprofit's name to read its nomination): Deborah Cella for the Colfax Community Network, North Aurora, Montbello, Green Valley Ranch; Judy Anderson for the Four Mile Family Resource Center, South Aurora; Suz Mitchell-Elasser for Warm Hearts-Warm Babies, Thornton, Northglenn, Westminster, Commerce City, Federal Heights, Brighton; Dave Joly for the Douglas County D.A.R.E. Foundation, Castle Rock, Castle Pines, Franktown; Charlotte Thompson for The Delores Project, Denver; Karen Meyer for SungateKids, South Denver, Glendale; Susan Hoffer for the John Weston Frederick Griffins Scholarship, Golden, Evergreen, Conifer; Cynthia Ergenbright for Connections Therapeutic Riding Center, Highlands Ranch, Roxborough, Lone Tree; Kristi Theis for the Jumping Eagles, Ken Caryl, Columbine, Littleton, Morrison; Kim Steuart for Joseph's Journey, Lakewood, Edgewater; Dora Esparza for the Child Development Center at Arapahoe Community College, Littleton, Englewood, Cherry Hills Village, Greenwood Village, Sheridan, Centennial; Connie Wilcox for Inn Between of Longmont, Boulder, Longmont, Niwot; Dustin Willis for Dental Aid, Broomfield, Erie, Lafayette, Louisville, Superior; Debbie Santy for the Double Angel Foundation, Parker; and Shari Nelson for the Have A Heart Project, Arvada, Wheat Ridge, Westminster.

In the spring, YourHub.com will offer more funds through the Community Giving program, but don't wait until then to keep us and your neighbors informed about nonprofit events, fundraisers and special clients. You can post a story, post an event or start a blog now.