Events to Attend

Intercambio Volunteer Session: Open doors to people from around the world by volunteering to teach English to new immigrants. Intercambio of Boulder, an organization dedicated to uniting communities and supporting about 1,000 immigrants in Boulder County every year, will be holding a volunteer information session at their ­­­­­­­­Longmont office. Volunteers will be trained in teaching English (no knowledge of a second language required), and then can be on their way to helping three to four hours a week and making lasting connections. For more information about activities and filling out a volunteer form, visit intercambio.org. Monday, January 9, 6–7 p.m.; 1715 Iron Horse Dr., Ste. 130, Longmont; RSVP to Raquel@intercambio.org; 303-996-0275

Denver Bug Banquet & Benefit 2017: Want to go sustainable and try a bug diet? At Linger, you can experience the inaugural five-course Bug Banquet, featuring insect ingredients like mealworms and crickets, all prepared by the renowned “Bug Chef” of Seattle David Gordon, alongside the crew at Linger. An appetizer, soup, salad, entrée, side, and dessert will be paired with drinks, and proceeds will support research and development at the Rocky Mountain Micro Ranch, Colorado’s first and only edible insect farm. If you’re grossed out, don’t be: According to Wendy Lu McGill of RMMR, edible insects are great source of protein, iron, calcium, B12, and are a sustainable form of agriculture. Wednesday, January 11, 7–9:30 p.m.; Linger, 2030 W. 30th Ave.; $75

Warren Miller Film Screening: If you enjoy watching a flick with a drink in hand while also supporting a good cause, grab tickets to the 10th annual Warren Miller Film Screening, where 100 percent of the proceeds will go to SafeHouse Denver, a domestic violence emergency shelter that provides intervention, counseling, and education. Held at Stoney’s Bar & Grill in Capitol Hill, the ski film company will showcase their new movie, Here, There and Everywhere. Tickets also include drink specials and ski giveaways (like two-for-one lift tickets at Crested Butte Mountain Resort). Friday, January 13, doors at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m.; Stoney’s Bar and Grill, 1111 Lincoln St.; $25

Polar Bear 5k: Baby it’s cold outside, but that won’t deter Denverites from exercising for a good cause. At the Polar Bear 5K, which is part of the 30-year-old Run Denver Run series, runners will loop around Smith and Grasmere lakes in Washington Park for three miles and finish with an award ceremony. Donations for the event will benefit Girls on the Run of the Rockies, a youth running group, and the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, an organization helping to find a cure to Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Race day will also bring goodies like a free Kids Fun Run, an ice bath Polar Bear Challenge, hot cocoa, and vendors like Dirt Coffee, which employs and empowers young adults with autism. Lace up and get your juices flowing for this cold cause. Sunday, January 15, 9 a.m.; Washington Park; $40

Causes to Care About

Metro Caring: It’s estimated that more than $50 million is spent on food for Super Bowl Sunday, yet according to Metro Caring, 25 percent of Denver families still go hungry. Because of this, the organization is putting on a SOUPer Bowl of Caring and asking residents to collect funds, nutritious foods, and low-sodium canned soups from now until game day, February 5. All donations can be dropped off at their facility. If you’re interested in volunteering, you can sign up and attend this week’s info session. Wednesday, January 11, 3–4:30 pm.; Metro Caring, 1100 E. 18th Ave.

Denver Digs Trees: The Park People, a local 30-year-old organization, has been turning the city green by planting free and low-cost trees in neighborhoods that need them, adding up to 49,000 trees to date. February 15 is the deadline for any person or organization to apply for a tree to be planted this spring, but if you’d like to help spread the word, register for the organization’s neighborhood canvassing effort. Saturday, January 14, Lincoln Park neighborhood, 9 a.m. to noon