Update Feb. 7: This article has been updated to reflect that the Feb. 13 Valentine's Day-themed market at Raices Brewing will take place from 3-6 p.m.
A fundraiser intended to support Denver's new immigrants from a vacant unit inside of Aurora's Stanley Marketplace is expected to return one more week before taking their show on the road.
"All good things must come to an end and we knew we couldn't be at Stanley forever," said organizer Janesa Lockhart.
Originally slated to run through the month of January, Stanley and organizers have agreed to host the marketplace for one final Tuesday on Feb. 6 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The following week vendors will put on a Valentine's Day-themed market, this time hosted at West Denver's Raices Brewing Co. on Feb. 13 from 3-6 p.m.
"I do think we will continue doing this like maybe once a month," Lockhart said. "But that will take more volunteer power than what we have right now."
Intended to be a one-day event that garnered enough interest to run the whole month, Stanley decided to host the "Finding Their Way" fundraiser with the help of community organizers. The goal was to mirror a Stanley Marketplace storefront unit, with visitors invited to peruse through the services in hopes of supporting new immigrants in need of cash.
Vendors have been trying their hands at entrepreneurship thanks to the help of local volunteers like Lockhart, selling anything from recycled dog leashes, homemade arepas, keychains and even offering dance and boxing classes.
Members of the Central Park & Park Hill - Venezuelan Migrant Support Facebook group have mulled over the possibility of transitioning out of Stanley, partially because there wasn't a clear future for them after February and due to a lack of volunteers that can help run the event.
Lockhart and other volunteers have spent up to 10 hours a day helping set up, coordinate and take down vendor booths. Aside from regular weekly check-ins, volunteers must also help coordinate childcare, transportation and vending supplies all while fielding the language and cultural barriers that come with supporting new immigrants.
"We have grown exponentially each week," Lockhart said.
According to Lockhart, two weeks ago everyone sold out of food by 5:30 p.m., an hour and a half before closing. This past week the marketplace had to expand to a larger back room to house over 20 vendors, many selling out before the end of their shifts.
"It's just showing the growing demand of vendors wanting to participate but also customers wanting to come and support the vendors," Lockhart said.
To help manage the influx of interested collaborators, organizers have set up an email where those interested in volunteering or hosting the marketplace can reach out.
"It's been really cool to see a lot of people that started with just a table create business in the community outside of the Stanley," Lockhart said.
Those interested in checking out the event at Raices Brewing Co. can expect 10-15 vendors selling an assortment of desserts, arts and crafts.
"Building more connections in the community where this group of small businesses could pop up in different spots," Lockhart said. "We are going to be in a different part of the city. I'm hoping that we're able to capture people that haven't been able to come."
If you're interested in hosting, volunteering or sharing ideas with organizers email [email protected].
