About Carron Coffee House
The Carron Coffee House Association was established and sponsored by the Denver Metro Knight of Columbus (KC) as a 501(c)(3) charitable association on April 27, 2003.
The primary purpose of the association is to provide recreational, social, and spiritual interaction for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Denver, Colorado metropolitan area. This is accomplished through the operation of the Carron Coffee House Association program (see the Carron Coffee House Association brochure).
The Carron Coffee House Association is named for Cary Carron. In 1960, the pastor of Notre Dame Catholic Church asked if Cary would be willing to teach religious education to a teen with developmental disabilities who was also subject to seizures. Cary, a registered nurse, felt she could work well with the teen.
This was only the beginning. As she came to know the handicapped community, she learned of their enormous needs, particularly the needs of developmentally disabled adults and their families. Few programs existed to help them.
Cary took on the difficult challenge to change that. She founded a Ministry to the Handicapped under the auspices of the Archdiocese of Denver.
Cary recruited volunteers, brought together a professional staff, started a fund-raising program, connected with community resources, and persuaded elected officials to recognize and help meet the needs of developmentally disabled adults.
One by one, Cary brought into being Coffee House, Respite Care for families, Colleges for Living, a Group Home, and Follow-along Services.
Coffee House began with the help of six seminarians at St. Thomas Seminary in 1974.
In 1975, Cary approached the Knights of Columbus to seek their support for the Coffee House program. The Knights of Columbus have generously provided financial support for the Coffee House program from their annual Tootsie Roll program.
The Denver Metro Councils of the Knights of Columbus continue to provide transportation for many of the Coffee House patrons.
Coffee House Today
In April 2003, the Denver Metro Councils of the Knights of Columbus formed a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation to continue the Coffee House program which is now known as the Carron Coffee House Association.
The Carron Coffee House is open to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Denver Metro area.
The program includes an hour of entertainment or an activity, a light meal and concludes with a Catholic Mass. Attendees are not required to attend Mass.
The Carron Coffee House program is held on Friday evenings at Light of the World Catholic Church, 10306 West Bowles Avenue, Littleton, Colorado 80127. Coffee House meets between September and the following June from 7 to 9 p.m.
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Contact the program coordinator, Monica Naegele for more information at 720-985-0729.