Mental health resources, community healing fund available for those affected by the Boulder mass shooting

When news broke on Monday that there had been a mass shooting at a King Soopers grocery store in Boulder — only seven days after a mass shooting in Atlanta — Jordan Finegan sprung into action. She, unfortunately, has practice.

Finegan, the executive director of the Colorado Healing Fund, grew up surrounded by mass tragedy. Her mother, a victims advocate, took Finegan to stand in line for the Oklahoma City Bombing trial in 1997 to hold spots for survivors and family members who wished to view the trial. She vividly remembers being pulled out of her Denver middle school when the Columbine High School massacre occurred in 1999.

“As someone who grew up in this space, it’s just unfathomable that this is still occurring in our lifetimes and that we’re having to continue to respond and support our community in this way,” Finegan said. “I’m feeling a lot, everyone is.”

The lives lost during the Boulder mass shooting:

• Denny Stong, 20
• Neven Stanisic, 23
• Rikki Olds, 25
• Tralona Bartkowiak, 49
• Suzanne Fountain, 59
• Teri Leiker, 51
• Eric Talley, 51
• Kevin Mahoney, 61
• Lynn Murray, 62
• Jody Waters, 65

The Community Healing Fund, formed in 2018, has been collecting donations from foundations and community members since Monday. “We have received an incredible amount of outreach today,” Finegan said on Tuesday. “So far we’re close to 2,000 individual donors.”

“I haven’t been able to take a moment to finalize the total number so far. But we have some pledges from some larger companies that are extremely substantial, in the hundreds of thousands of dollars,” she added. “I’ve been very overwhelmed at how much the community has risen up and have really wanted to give and help everyone in Boulder.”

The group is also collaborating with the Community Foundation Boulder County, which has started its own fund for the wider community. “It’s for Boulder residents that are not necessarily the ones who were in the store or in the surrounding area but who may be feeling overwhelmed by this and might need some support as well,” Finegan said.

Finegan said on Tuesday that the Community Healing Fund plans to give out funds to victims’ families within the next few days.

Moms Demand Action — a gun safety advocacy group — is holding a vigil for the Boulder victims on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Fairview High School, 1515 Greenbriar Blvd, in Boulder.

Here is a short list of mental health resources for members of the Boulder community and beyond  

• Victims Assistance: People who have been directly affected by the tragedy can visit the Family Assistance Center at VIA Mobility Services located at 2855 63rd St. in Boulder. Open daily 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Info on victim compensation, personal effects, funeral expense support, behavioral health support and other resources.
• Mental Health Partners: Clinicians are operating remotely at this time and offering mental health services to community members. Call 303-443-8500 to schedule an appointment or visit the Walk-In clinic: 3180 Airport Road, Boulder
• Colorado Crisis Services: Confidential crisis support, information and referrals are available 24/7. Call: 1-844-493-TALK (8255).
• Community Health Workers: Community Health Workers is a virtual team of Mental Health Partners providers who are available on Facebook. 

Some other helpful resources

• How to talk to your kids about the Boulder shooting (Denver Post)
• A Mass Shooting During A Pandemic Means More Trauma And Stress. Here’s One Psychologist’s Advice For How To Cope (Colorado Public Radio)