The once-empty former Nordstorm department store at the FlatIron Crossing mall in Broomfield has transformed into a donations and resource center for the Marshall Fire.
Donated clothing hangs on racks, dry foods line the former men’s shoes section and hundreds of toys, backpacks and stuffed animals make up the department store's former kids section.
The 165,000 square-foot space, located at 21 W. Flatiron Crossing Drive, opened for those impacted by the fire Wednesday and will be open 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. Individuals are given carts or bags to shop around the store for items they need. Those seeking assistance should use the west entrance, closer to Macy’s.
The center opened for truckload donations Monday and started accepting general public donations Tuesday. Donations can be dropped off daily from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the north entrance.
More than 80 volunteers spanning three shifts are needed to help unload and sort donations.
Communications Director for the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Micki Trost stressed volunteer assistance will be needed throughout the year.
“The need is going to be ongoing for months,” she said Wednesday, encouraging community members to keep an eye on the Colorado Responds volunteer webpage.
Financial donations remain the preferred method of supporting those impacted. The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management’s Department of Public Safety is keeping a running list of items needed, which is available online.
Toiletries, kitchenware, sheets and towels, laundry detergent and cleaning supplies, unopened nonperishable foods, disposable plates and cutlery and school supplies are currently on the list.
“The most costly part about putting a house back together that people forget about is their needs for their kitchen,” Voluntary Agency Liaison Noah McCord said Wednesday. “They start thinking about dishware and things like that, but then there’s all of the basics that cost a lot like spices … mixing spoons, potholders. The kitchen is the most expensive room.”
He said organizations wanting to help are encouraged to provide a “kitchen in a box.” Organizations interested in holding a donation drive can contact the donations management team at 720-448-3211.
Items like combs and brushes, linens, car seats, undergarments, shoes and clothes all must be new. There’s also an online list of items that cannot be accepted, which includes opened or used items, cribs or car seats. McCord noted the center doesn’t need PPE donations right now.
The donations and resource center is expected to stay open for at least the next four months as those impacted continue to work through what they may need.
“We’re going to continue to need stuff,” Trost said. “People move through the recovery process at different rates, so we do need things when people are ready to start coming through here.”
Community members interested in volunteering can visit coloradoresponds.org.
