By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice
It’s a scene no parent wants to imagine: children sleeping on floors, wearing shoes three sizes too small or going without a warm coat during the winter.
Yet, for hundreds of children in Douglas County, this is a stark reality.
“We had more than 300 homeless or displaced kids in Douglas County last year,” state Rep. Brandi Bradley shares. “This isn’t because people are wasting money. It’s because they can’t afford the cost of living. The economy we’ve created through state-level decisions has put people in impossible situations.”
Bradley, who represents District 39 in Douglas County, is driven to change that in ways that surpass her fight at the capitol. And she’s calling on her community to join her in spreading the Christmas cheer to Douglas County families in need.
Through donations, gift card drop-offs and sponsorships, she hopes to bring relief and joy to struggling families from Ranch View Middle School and Acres Green Elementary.
For Bradley, her passion for helping others comes from a deeply personal place.
“I was raised in an abusive environment,” she shares. “My mom was an alcoholic. She’s clean and sober now and lives with us. But growing up, I could have taken a path of anger. For a long time, I did. Hurting people hurt people.”
Bradley explains how she turned her life around.
“I had to really apologize to a lot of people, and sometimes I still do,” she says. “But I made a promise to myself: if I chose the path of helping, I would truly do anything and everything I could, especially for children.”
Bradley and her husband, Jay, have four boys, including three teenagers. After the stillbirth of her only daughter, Bradley’s perspective deepened.
“Everyone has battles,” she said. “You can either choose to be vile and vicious, or you can choose to fight for what’s right. You’ve got two choices in life. I tell my kids that all the time.”
This drive fuels her approach to leadership: “That boldness probably comes from the little kid in me that was always a fighter,” she reflected. “I see kids in volatile situations or who are hungry and it reminds me of how I lived. I never want any child to feel like they don’t have a reason to wake up in the morning.”
She points to policies passed at the state level that have driven up living costs and made life harder for working families.
“We used to rank fifth in the nation for economic growth. Now we’re 41st,” she said.
“We’ve passed so many construction defect laws that people can’t afford apartment rent in the Highlands Ranch area,” Bradley continued. “Single parents are working two or three jobs, seniors are coming out of retirement and families are doubling up in homes just to make ends meet. This is happening in Douglas County, one of the richest counties in the country.”
She’s determined to fight for families as a Christian mom and wife, lawmaker and fellow Coloradan.
Bradley’s faith underpins both her role as an elected official and her commitment to this initiative: “I have to be very still in some of this chaos. I remind myself of that every morning on my way to the Capitol. In the silence, I have to be faithful.”
She draws strength in prayer with other Christians. “I’m in a great prayer group,” she says.
But she’s quick to point out the essence of Christianity, “I don’t always get it right, but I try to do better when I fall short. Accepting this call of duty — to help others through my faith — is what led me here.”
Describing her service in the state legislature, “Leadership means being bold, standing for what’s right and not backing down from the truth,” Bradley said. “But it also means serving others. I’d give my worst enemy a place to stay if they needed help because compassion doesn’t have political boundaries. [As Christians], we’re called to love the person, hate the sin.”
Four years ago, Bradley felt hesitation about starting this Christmas initiative.
She shared, “It’s so funny because I really thought: I’m too busy for this. I’ve got too much on my plate. But the Lord reminded me, ‘No, you don’t. You have a house, a car, clothes and your kids are well-fed. There are so many people in need. You have this big voice – do something.’”
She admitted struggling with doubts about the scale of her impact. “Sometimes I think, if I can’t help all the families, then maybe I shouldn’t do it at all,” Bradley said. “But I’ve learned to remember that helping a few families is better than helping none.”
She urges anyone considering a contribution: any amount helps. Unlike many TV pitchmen for a variety of causes, Bradley personally gives to the effort.
Reflecting on the economic challenges families are facing, she shared, “I know how hard times are right now. We’ve had to budget. We’ve had to cut back. You know what? I’d love to go to dinner every Friday night. Absolutely. But sometimes, you have to make these cuts.”
Bradley added, “Please don’t underestimate the power of a $5 or $10 gift.”
To support this initiative, you can:
- Venmo donations to @Brandi-Bradley-1.
- Drop off gift cards at Bradley’s workplace, Proactive PT, or her house.
- Sponsor a child through the SignUpGenius page and provide gifts by Dec. 16.
“The Lord has called us to help our neighbors and to help people in need. And a little goes a long way,” Bradley said. “If the community can come together and lift these people up, I think there will be enormous gratitude.”
Rep. Bradley originally shared this call to action in a communication to her supporters, which can be viewed here.