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Welcome to Springs and Things, the podcast where two close friends spill the tea on all things Colorado Springs! From culture and community to hidden gems and neighborhood lore, we’ve got it covered. Join us as we sip our coffee (or maybe something stronger) and dive into the stories and secrets that make this city so unique. Whether you're a local or just passing through, our fun, light-hearted, and always entertaining take on the quirks, hot topics, and insider tips will keep you coming back for more. Discover what’s really happening in the Springs—beyond the mountains and parks!
After three weeks apart, Lord and I are finally back together, and it is Giving Tuesday. So we're sharing the local nonprofits that we love, we support, and that we think you absolutely should know about. From organizations keeping families safe to programs teaching kids confidence and personal safety to the foster community getting wrapped in love at a hospital caring for thousands of children in Southern Colorado, we are highlighting the organizations that make Colorado Springs better every single day. This episode is heartfelt and it just might inspire your next act of kindness, so let's dive in. Hey everyone, I'm Carly.
Lauren Ferrara:And I'm Lauren.
Carly Ries:We're two Colorado Springs locals who love uncovering everything that makes the city special.
Lauren Ferrara:If you're the kind of person who wants to know where to go, what's happening, and the stories behind it all, then you're in the right place. Welcome to Springs of Things, your insider's path to hidden gems, local flavor, and unexpected moments that make The Springs one of
Carly Ries:a kind.
Lauren Ferrara:From secret spots and can't miss events to arts, eats, and those you've gotta hear about
Carly Ries:at local stories. We've got you covered.
Lauren Ferrara:So grab your coffee, settle in, and get ready to fall a little more in
Carly Ries:love with Colorado Springs. Let's dive in to Springs and Things. Lauren, I haven't seen you in like three weeks.
Lauren Ferrara:I know. This has been the longest time I think I've gone without seeing you since we started this podcast. And make sure it's ever.
Carly Ries:I think actually Guatemala. Oh, true. Guatemala. Yeah.
Lauren Ferrara:That was six weeks.
Carly Ries:But I I've been okay. Ready? Ready for this attempt? Yes. I've been Down Under.
Carly Ries:Yes. How was it?
Lauren Ferrara:Well, I already know how it was, but tell our viewers how our listeners. I always say viewers, TV. We'll have this die hard. Tell our listeners how Down Under was.
Carly Ries:It was great. So I was in Australia for, like, eight days. It was so fun. It was a a friend's engagement party. She lives down there.
Carly Ries:It wasn't just, like a huge elaborate engagement party.
Lauren Ferrara:I put up my friends up, got engaged, and they were like, hey. Come to this party. I feel like, you serious?
Carly Ries:Yeah. They are. And they're those there's those friends that are like they're family. Like, the mom and my mom are so close. We grew up together as a whole thing.
Carly Ries:My mom also had a monumental birthday this year just a couple months ago. So we're like, let's do mother daughter trip. It was so wonderful. Missed the fam big time. But everything was great.
Carly Ries:But Yay. Have I told you my Australia accent tutorial?
Lauren Ferrara:No. Go for it.
Carly Ries:Say okay, listeners. Do this with us. Say rise up lights altogether fast.
Lauren Ferrara:Rise up lights. You need some rise up lights?
Carly Ries:You need some razor blades in Australia? Did it sound like it? I forgot my rise up lights, but all I'm saying is rise up lights.
Lauren Ferrara:Oh my gosh, I love it. That's a fun part.
Carly Ries:I know. So when she thought she lost her razor, was like, this is my moment to shine. She found it. But I was, like, texting my husband. I was like, I'm going to a drugstore, and I'm buying a razor, and I'm gonna say rise of lights.
Lauren Ferrara:How did you learn that? I It's like an improv thing from back in your day.
Carly Ries:You know, I wish. I think I was scrolling, and it was a reel that popped up at,
Lauren Ferrara:10:30 at night when I was trying to go to bed.
Carly Ries:Sounds more believable. But I don't have a
Lauren Ferrara:good pivot with this. Today's Giving Tuesday. It is Giving Tuesday.
Carly Ries:So we each picked three nonprofits that we care a lot about, but we also think you should consider donating to this holiday season. But before we get into those, you know how I'm always so like, I'm on I'm on a hunt to find good volunteer opportunities for kids.
Lauren Ferrara:Yes. Me and my husband were talking about that because our kids are now 10 and almost eight, and I think it's it's time to like really make that part of our values.
Carly Ries:And there I we've been trying to do that for our younger ones, but they have very few We've been making fleece blankets for children's hospital, which I'll actually spoiler for one of mine, I'll get to in a second. But can I just tell you about an idea that I got an email from from my daughter's teacher and what they're doing at their school? Oh. I'm just gonna read this verbatim. Each year, we do the great giving back project.
Carly Ries:Every day over the three weeks, the students will complete a project that involves doing something for others. She'll send an email each week to let us know what the students will be doing. And for an example, this week, Monday, they give out compliments. Tuesday, they hold the door. Wednesday, they donate loose change to a charity.
Carly Ries:Thursday, they help pick up litter. Friday, they make a gift for an elderly person in a nursing home.
Lauren Ferrara:Good. Yes.
Carly Ries:I got this email, and I I immediately emailed her teacher, I was like
Lauren Ferrara:Yes.
Carly Ries:This is amazing. How cool is that?
Lauren Ferrara:That is so cool. Yeah. And it's not always like the big, we have to dedicate this day or this month. It's like little things like holding a door open for somebody. I love this.
Carly Ries:Well, so why don't you kick things off? What is what are some of your nonprofits that you
Lauren Ferrara:feel passionately about? Okay. So big one is Tessa, supporting survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. And they do an incredible job. And I know so many of the volunteers and they have such a heart for this work.
Lauren Ferrara:Each day here in Colorado Springs, there are 35 domestic violence calls made to police. There's such a need and they treat people with such respect and just wrap their arms around them in so many different ways from housing support, legal services, taking care of people's kids. And they see women, men, and of course, human trafficking survivors. And I just absolutely adore them.
Carly Ries:You've been pretty involved with them for a few years now, have you?
Lauren Ferrara:I've been on the committee for Pasta in the Park, which is every late August. And it is such a fun event and it's so meaningful. And a lot of survivors will tell their stories. And you just really know that your money is going to keep people safe. And it's incredible.
Lauren Ferrara:So where can people find the website? So it's tessacs.org. And if you're in that situation and think and there's so many different kinds of abuse. You know, there's financial abuse, there's emotional abuse, and there's physical abuse, which is what we think about when we think of domestic violence. But they come up with safety plans for people.
Lauren Ferrara:I've actually gone through a lot of their volunteer training. And the people behind the scenes are just absolute superheroes.
Carly Ries:Oh, well, speaking of safety, I'm going to pivot to one of mine because I feel like that's a good pivot. We have talked about kid power on the show a few times.
Lauren Ferrara:And we've both sent our kids to kid power.
Carly Ries:Don't mean to brag, I am also an alum.
Lauren Ferrara:Oh, I did not know this. Really? Yes.
Carly Ries:Yes. So I mean, when I did it, they came to our school. So I and they still go to school. I mean, it seem like they don't still do that. They do still do that.
Carly Ries:But they also offer weekend workshops, all but one of our kids has gone to because of age. But Kipow basically teaches kids personal safety skills. And that's things like setting boundaries, speaking up, recognizing unsafe situations so that they can move through this world more confidently. They do it in such an age appropriate way. Like, some of these topics, you're like, how on earth do you explain this to a four year old four year old?
Carly Ries:Because, yes, their workshops go from four to eight year old or four to 18 year olds for kids. And you're like, how do you explain some of these things? They use puppets for the young ones. They and it's just such a wonderful organization. They just give kids practical tools to say stay safe, like you
Lauren Ferrara:were saying, emotionally, socially, and physically. Well, yeah, both my kids have done it. And I I was hesitant at first when I first heard about it because I the phrase that triggers me is when people say, oh, stranger danger. And I'm like, the world is an awesome place full of awesome people. And I was afraid of something like that, of people like teaching my kids to be afraid of the world.
Lauren Ferrara:And they do a great job of like educating the adults. And they sit us down and they say like, Hey, if something happens, it'll most likely be somebody you know and trust. And that's like hard to hear because we want to pretend like, Oh, it's this outside world. It's such a scary place. But I think they you know, you never hear the word stranger danger there.
Lauren Ferrara:It they it was incredible. It was good for me, and it was good for both my kids.
Carly Ries:It was. And the team, they just have such a rock solid team through and through. Anyway, I could ramble on
Lauren Ferrara:And who've been there since inception.
Carly Ries:Jan Isaacs Henry, the executive director, has been doing it Oh for over god. 30 Yeah, she's just incredible. Anyway, obviously we love this organization. If you want to support them, there's a number of ways you can, general donations, or just go go to their website, check out what they have going on at kidpowercs.org. Sign your kids up for a workshop, donate, go to their annual Chocoholic Frolic, which will happen this spring.
Carly Ries:It is just incredible. Again, that is kidpowercs.org. But be sure to include the c s so you don't go to the national website. What is your next one?
Lauren Ferrara:So my next one, I love fostering hope so much. So what they do is they create this extended family that surrounds and supports foster families. And it was a doctor who started this, and he'd see a lot of child abuse cases and a lot of kids in the foster system. And they, instead of helping the kids directly, they wrap around the adults, the foster families, and help support them. So there's these teams of basically little aunties and uncles who take the kids to appointments, take them to the park, bring meals.
Lauren Ferrara:And what I think is really cool, I was looking at the national statistics of kids in the foster system and it's about a it depends on what study you look at, but about a sixty percent graduation rate. The kids who've gone through fostering hope, one hundred percent have graduated from high school. What? Yes. Isn't that crazy?
Lauren Ferrara:And they also help age out of the foster system, right? I was at an event and they were like, When did you stop calling your mom for help? And I'm 42. And I'm like, No, still call my mom every day. And so they're like, Yeah, you never age out of fostering hope.
Lauren Ferrara:They support kids through adulthood too.
Carly Ries:Okay. Where can people help this organization or whatever?
Lauren Ferrara:So it is fosteringhopefoundation.org, and I get chills thinking about them and talking about them because they are incredible.
Carly Ries:Well, another incredible organization. I, brought it up earlier with the blank the making the fleece blankets. But Children's Hospital of Colorado. I mean, obviously, this is one that the vast majority of our listeners have heard of. But let me just I so I actually reached out.
Carly Ries:A friend of mine works for the Children's Hospital Foundation. And so I reached out to her to get some stats, and they have and this is the Springs location. 40 plus pediatric specialties. In 2024, they they had more than 57,000 unique patients. They reached a 150,000 plus total visits, completed 6,300 surgeries, handled nearly 38,000 emergency department visits.
Carly Ries:The list goes on. They are just such a wonderful organization. Obviously, you can donate to the hospital and really help everything that they do. But in addition to monetary donations, they also have a donation wish list. And to coordinate a time to schedule a drop off, you need to contact the Association of Volunteers at (719) 305-7042.
Carly Ries:And for the health of their patients and families, I need to know a few things. They can only accept brand new toys and plush items. Beanie Babies dolls and other collectibles are not accepted even if they're in great condition. And they're also unable to accept toys that include Nerf guns, swords, lightsabers, knives, bows and arrows, or anything representing a weapon. And they're also unable to accept any items that are gift wrapped.
Carly Ries:So again, brand new toys and plush items. They have a whole list. We can actually I might even put this in like, a link to it in our show notes for infants, for preschool, school age, adolescents, and all of that. And again, you can also make fleece blankets for them. They have all the requirements on their website as well for that because these patients, like, really just love getting fleece blankets while they're in the hospital.
Carly Ries:Children's Hospital of Colorado, Colorado Springs location, just incredible.
Lauren Ferrara:Okay. Ready for my final one? My final one is Goodwill of Colorado. And because I've been involved with them for several years, captured so many stories of the people they've served, and they do such amazing work. So 90¢ of every dollar donated goes directly to people, directly to their programs.
Lauren Ferrara:And I interviewed this one woman who she had been a stay at home mom for her entire, she had never after high school had never worked and or outside of the home, obviously she worked. And then her husband got a TBI, so she became the breadwinner. And she went to Goodwill's IT LIFT program, which is basically like a free college degree and learned IT and now makes so much money and supports her family. And so whenever people are interested in that industry, I'm like, do you know about Goodwill's IT Lift program? They also have a high school that has high school for adults where they graduate with not a GED but a real high school diploma.
Lauren Ferrara:And it has childcare, it has transportation. It is amazing. They serve individuals with disabilities, people with economic challenges, seniors. They have like a day program for seniors that I've actually gone to to just check it out, and it's incredible. And then they have this possibilities.
Lauren Ferrara:It's right there on Garden Of The Gods Road. It's like a little almost little city. There's a city council and it's for people with intellectual disabilities. And they have a city council, they have art classes, they have fitness classes, and people can stay there all day. And it's fabulous.
Lauren Ferrara:So whenever yeah. If you donating clothes there makes such a huge difference. And, of course, donating your time, money, talents, everything. I just could not think more highly of goodwill. And, I mean, not many nonprofits can say 90¢ of every dollar goes right back into their programs.
Carly Ries:That is so true. You always hear about those nonprofits that end up being kind of scams and kind of more profit focused. Yeah. And you're like, wait. You're a nonprofit.
Carly Ries:I don't understand what is happening. Well, I'm gonna shift oh, I'm this is gonna be such a good pun. I'm gonna shift gears a little bit because my next one is bike COS. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh.
Carly Ries:I know my husband's listening to this. That one's for you. So this might be seem more trivial to some people like Bike COS. Of all the nonprofits out there, I get there are gazillion to be donating to. But we live in a city that we pride ourselves in the outdoors.
Carly Ries:I mean, when we have to ask people time and time again what they love most about The Springs, it's the outdoors. So we need to make the outdoors as safe and as accessible as possible, and we have such a huge cycling community here. I mean, it's it blows my mind. I didn't realize how big it was until my husband kind of introduced me to this whole side of The Springs, and we just have such a wonderful cycling community. So so Bikes US makes bicycling in the Pikes Peak region better for people of all ages and abilities by advocating for safe and connected on and off street bicycle infrastructure, teaching people how to safely use the network, uniting businesses, organizations, and individuals who embrace bicycling, and celebrating a community that pedals.
Carly Ries:They welcome community involvement. You can support them via membership, volunteering, or join events. We are a huge bike family led by my amazing husband who is, like, the king of cycling. Like, he rides 13 miles to work every day. Yes.
Carly Ries:He has a car, but he prefers cycling those 13 miles to work every day. But we just our spirits are lifted when we get on bikes. Our kids are different kids when they get on bikes. They they're their most free, happiest selves. We just have such a great cycling community that means so much to our family, and we wanna share that with everybody else.
Carly Ries:And and I think having a good bike infrastructure and community is just a great place to to put some time and attention. It's different than the other ones, but, I mean, I really support our outdoors here in The Springs. And think you all should too. We've got such a
Lauren Ferrara:great variety. And these are just a little sampling of the many organizations that we love and that love Colorado Springs back. But yeah. So we wanna hear about yours. If there's an organization that we should know about, yeah, please let us know because we would we would love to learn more, and we'd love to hear who you are donating to this Giving Tuesday.
Lauren Ferrara:Lauren, I have a I've had to do a
Carly Ries:few solo episodes. It's so funny. People have asked, like, what I do the solo episodes. If the reason I do that is sometimes our schedules just don't align. But if we have to do an interview without one of us, I love you so much.
Carly Ries:But I'm the only one that can run tech.
Lauren Ferrara:Yeah. I I didn't even know our password. So when we were logging in to do it this time, I'm like, oh, I am absolutely no help.
Carly Ries:So it is not me trying to steal the mic. It is not Lauren trying to slack off. I'm the only one that knows how to run the software to record this.
Lauren Ferrara:It was well, my mom, she was like, didn't hear you talk very much in this last episode. I was like, which one? And she told me which one. And I was like, I wasn't on it.
Carly Ries:But if you ever just hear me flag solo, there is die we are not having a rocky relationship or anything. I just know how to work the microphone. But because of that, I've gotten to do so many picks of the week Oh. By myself and kinda just went with it. So you, my dear, are gonna do all of our picks of the week today.
Lauren Ferrara:Well, good. Because I couldn't pick. There's I have a lot. Well, not a lot. I I have three.
Lauren Ferrara:I'll go with three.
Carly Ries:But before we get to to those, let's thank our amazing sponsors. Alright, you guys. Core Collective has been our sponsor from the very beginning, and they just celebrated their second birthday. So as a gift, consider voting for them for the best of Springs favorite place to do Pilates. We've included the link in the show notes.
Carly Ries:And, also, don't forget if you wanna take one of their classes, you can type in the code springs and things, all caps, no spaces at checkout to get three classes for just $30. That's $10 a class. That is unreal. They are the best. And on a separate note, if you are dreaming of a home glow up but wanted to feel stylish and actually doable, you must know about Modern Interior Company.
Carly Ries:Their modern elevated approach brings high end design into real Colorado homes without the overwhelm, and they help homeowners focus on the updates that make the biggest visual impact. Check out Modern Interior Company's website, which is also in the show notes, to see why we love their work.
Lauren Ferrara:Okay. Carly, I have a pretty big weekend planned, and I want you to come to most, if not everything.
Carly Ries:I mean, you know, nothing makes me happier than putting things on my calendar. Oh, I know.
Lauren Ferrara:Me too. Okay. So first thing on my calendar. So Fountain Valley School where I work has this skill session and open house for athletics. So they have you can meet the coaches.
Lauren Ferrara:You can tour the facilities. You can climb. You can play basketball, volleyball. And, yeah, it's just such a delightful place to go. And a lot of people in Colorado Springs have not even been to the campus.
Lauren Ferrara:So it's from ten to one for only middle school, though, on Saturday, December 6. So you can hedge the website. It's fes.edu/athletics/skills-day, which is a long, what is that word? URL. URL.
Lauren Ferrara:It is a long URL, but we'll put it in the show notes. Okay. So that's Saturday. You know, if you're gonna climb and play basketball and volleyball, how about eat some cookies? Have you been to Cookies with Santa with Colorado Springs Moms Collective?
Carly Ries:You know what? I got so nostalgic because this was your pick this week last year.
Lauren Ferrara:It was my pick. I have gone to this every year that they've done it, I think. So it's Cookies with Santa, Sunday, December 7 at Meanwhile Block, and they've got winter activities and crafts, games, and sensory stations, a meet and greet with a winter princess, cookie decorating, hot cocoa, and this is my favorite part, this intimate visit and professional photo with Santa. So fun, and I like it's ticketed, and you get an hour. So it never feels crazy.
Lauren Ferrara:You know how some of those, like, winter fairs, like, you get all claustrophobic? Like, this it's so beautifully run, and it yeah. The whole thing feels intimate and wonderful. You can buy your tickets at cospringsmom.com, and it is so very worth it. Oh, I have another pick.
Lauren Ferrara:Okay, Carly. This is totally up your alley. Carol's cocktails and cocoa, a holiday sing along at the Mighty Exchange. So bring your friends, family, your date. Carly, you're my date.
Lauren Ferrara:My husband's not gonna wanna go to this, but it's a big community sing along. They're gonna pass along pass around songbooks, and they have a live band. It's free. It's family friendly. And the hotel, of course, will be decorated for the holidays.
Lauren Ferrara:I'm super excited. So that is Sunday from four to six, which is nice because I don't like to be anywhere after six.
Carly Ries:Do we sing with them, or do they sing and we listen?
Lauren Ferrara:I think we sing or in my case, will just kind of mouth the words because I have the most horrendous singing voice you've ever heard.
Carly Ries:We should bring Thea and she can sing on our behalf.
Lauren Ferrara:We should.
Carly Ries:So if you're listening to this, you know who you are. Yeah. I just said your name. Can you sing? Here's the thing.
Carly Ries:Not like her. This is a dear friend of ours who has the most beautiful voice. I can dabble in singing. I can
Lauren Ferrara:carry a tune. Oh, that's impressive. I cannot.
Carly Ries:I can carry a tune, but I can't I I'm not signing any agents anytime soon.
Lauren Ferrara:I don't even know, like because I feel like it's, like, a condition, but I think I might be tone deaf. Like, is that a thing? That's a real thing.
Carly Ries:That's a real thing. Again, I love my husband so much. Man, that
Lauren Ferrara:guy is doing that too. He could come to the sing along too and stand next to me.
Carly Ries:Perfect. And I'll stand next to our friend and pretend I'm singing and it's gonna be her. Yeah. Anyway, guys, that is all we have for this week on Springs and Things. As always, please leave that five star review.
Carly Ries:Share this episode with a friend and subscribe on Apple or Spotify, and we'll see you next week.