9 Delicious Ways to Celebrate Colorado Gives Day

’Tis the season for peace on earth and goodwill to all. And if we can’t get peace on earth right now, at least we can spread a little goodwill. Even better? If those kind-hearted deeds come with a side of ramen, wine, a Work & Class dinner, or ice cream. Here are the local restaurants and culinary businesses that are working to spread holiday cheer this season, along with ways you can help.

Talk about a win-win-win: When you buy the Denver Box from Work & Class over the weekends of December 11 and 18, not only do you get an incredible, specially-curated meal for four, but proceeds from the sale go to the Denver Rescue Mission—and the boxes support local chefs, restaurants, and farmers. (Half of the box’s proceeds go to the participating restaurant and half goes to the Rescue Mission.) Order the takeout meals here and savor your do-goodness between bites.

Do you love the Fighting Nurse mural on Colfax by local artist Austin Zucchini-Fowler? That same artist has created a Colorado Strong image that’s gracing limited-edition bottles of Bigsby’s Folly wines. $5 from each bottle of its bone-dry Riesling and red blend will benefit the Colorado Restaurant Association’s Angel Relief Fund for hospitality workers experiencing financial hardship. Because wine altruism is the best kind of altruism.

Blackbelly and Santo chef-owner Hosea Rosenberg is on a mission. Yes, he wants to cook you delicious fare at his two Boulder restaurants but he also needs to find a cure for Multicentric Carpotarsal Osteolysis (MCTO), the rare genetic bone disorder that afflicts his three-year-old daughter, Sophie. Her eponymous nonprofit, Sophie’s Neighborhood, is hosting a virtual auction December 10 to 12 to raise much-needed funds to fund new treatments, and the items up for bid are worthy of any food lover’s wish list. Score virtual cooking classes from Top Chef alums, treats from Cookies4Cures, a tasting and tour at Denver’s Carboy Winery, Sweet Cow gift cards, and lots more.

Osaka Ramen in RiNo will match any gift card purchase on Tuesday, December 8, Colorado Gives Day, by gifting a card of the same amount to first responders at local hospitals. Nominate a first responder to get one of the gift cards by either tagging them in a post on social media or leaving their name and address with the restaurant when you pick yours. Gift cards are available for purchase in-person or via phone at 303-955-7938.

Bellevue-based Noosa Yoghurt has launched the $20,000 “Full on Grants” contest, a fund to help those other frontline workers who have gone above and beyond: teachers. Educators can share how they’ve gotten creative connecting with students during this unconventional year for a chance to win ten $2,000 grants from the yogurt brand to keep on sharpening the minds of our K-12 students. Nominate a teacher or apply for the grant here by December 11.

The Denver Broncos did better than expected in Sunday night’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs, but their loss means a win for area kids in need, thanks to a friendly wager between our local GQue BBQ and Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que. GQue will feed 100 Denver-area kids a barbecue meal through the RisnerUp Foundation (Bronco Dalton Risner’s nonprofit that aims to positively impact others through love and kindness), which you can donate to here. It was a generous bet for GQue to take, considering that the Chiefs don’t really, you know, lose.

Konjo Ethiopian Food will donate a portion of sales of some of its retail offerings to social justice groups like Black Lives Matter. While you’re browsing the popular food truck and Edgewater Public Market stall’s online shop full of spice packs, virtual cooking classes, and hot pepper sauces, check out the vivid Ethiopian-themed masks—all proceeds from the masks go directly to Elijah McClain’s family.

RoseBud Ice Cream, makers of craft CBD (and non-CBD) ice cream flavors, will donate 20 percent of all apparel sales made on their website through January 31 to Food for Thought Denver, a local nonprofit that fights childhood hunger in the community. RoseBud is also donating ice cream to the Food Bank of the Rockies and Food for Thought Denver volunteers, because everyone could use a pick-me-up after making it through this year.

Can’d Aid, the Oskar Blues-affiliated nonprofit, teamed up with Share-A-Gift to donate 50 brand new bikes to low-income kids in the Boulder Valley School District. Learn how you can help fundraise and build bikes, skateboards, art kits, and more at Can’d Aid’s website.