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If you go What: Hops and Handrails Beer Fest and Rail Jam When: 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 23 Where: Left Hand Brewing Company Contact: lefthandbrewing.com

LONGMONT — One mortgage payment was all it took to pull the McClure family out of what they call their dark days in 2010 when financial uncertainty left them hopeless.

Erie resident Carey McClure said her family’s 10-year home was on the brink of foreclosure after her husband was laid off and unexpected medical bills began pilling up.

“Our bills had increased by 75 percent, and even though my husband was working three jobs, our income was cut by 50 percent,” McClure said. “I worked for Habitat for Humanity for years so I was always the person helping but, all of a sudden, we became the people in need.”

Things started looking up after McClure received a surprising call from the bank informing her that the family’s mortgage was paid in full courtesy of the Longmont-based non-profit, A Woman’s Work.

“In that one mortgage payment, Women’s Work gave me the hope and the spirit and humanity in a time when I was pretty discouraged,” McClure said. “They saved my home but they also saved me and my family.”

McClure is hoping to share her story and raise awareness about A Woman’s Work at a fundraiser hosted by Left Hand Brewing Company on Saturday.

Hops and Handrails

Joshua Goldberg, events and community coordinator for Left Hand, said giving back to the community has been part of the company’s culture since its opening 20 years ago. But Saturday the company is taking its fundraising efforts to new heights — three stories high to be exact.

A three-story ski ramp covered in truckloads of snow will be the featured attraction at the brewery’s inaugural Hops and Handrails Beer Fest and Rail Jam, Goldberg said.

The event will include a ski and snowboard competition featuring Colorado college students, a kid zone featuring a beginner slope and gear and a beer tasting including libations from 23 Colorado breweries.

The proceeds from Saturday’s event will be divided evenly among A Woman’s Work, The Colorado Brewers Guild and SOS Outreach, a program that encourages at-risk youth to stay in school through outdoor sports.

Goldberg said the charities represent the focus on community, snow sports and, of course, craft beer.

“We wanted to bring the best of Colorado to Longmont, so we have craft beer and snowboarding,” Goldberg said. “We wanted to make this as fun as possible for the community in order to bring people together and hopefully increase our contributions.”

Goldberg said they’re hoping to raise at least $9,000, giving each charity $3,000.

Snowboarding to success

Joey Vergara, 19, was a high school freshman when he was offered an opportunity to snowboard for free once a month. But there was one catch: He had to stay in school and improve his grades.

Vergara said he was never a strong student, making mostly Cs in his classes and barely getting by. It was lure of snowboarding and the support of mentors from SOS Outreach that pushed him to succeed.

“I likely would have dropped out of high school if it wasn’t for SOS,” Vergara said. “But I enjoyed snowboarding so it motivated me to get my grades up so I could keep going.”

Six years later, Vergara is attending Metro State University of Denver and is a junior mentor for SOS.

Pay it forward

Volunteers from all of the organizations will be at Saturday’s winter fest fundraiser in Longmont, and for McClure it is about helping the charity that changed her life.

“My family chooses to volunteer because we know the impact that financial and other support can make,” McClure said. “After all, we’re still in our home today thanks to the help of the community.”

In the last three years, McClure and her husband, who is now employed full-time, have spent much of their time preparing their three daughters for college.

McClure was inspired by watching her daughters succeed despite the family’s tough times and founded the non-profit Collegiate Crossing in June. The organization helps low-income and first-generation students in Boulder County prepare for college and find financial aid.

Whitney Bryen can be reached at 303-684-5274 or at wbryen@times-call.com.