GARNA Impact Stories: GARNA Gear Library and Chaffee Housing Authority

In March of 2026 GARNA and the Chaffee Housing Authority launched an exciting collaborative partnership designed to encourage outdoor access for residents of Molly House, part of the larger Jane’s Place affordable housing project. Molly House focuses in particular on providing transitional housing for Chaffee County families and seniors experiencing housing instability while they work toward permanent housing solutions. Through its Chaffee Gear Library, with a mission of reducing unnecessary gear waste through lending and increasing access to the outdoors for those facing barriers due to affordability issues, GARNA was able to provide backpacks and binoculars that residents of Molly House can use during their stay. The Chaffee Housing Authority also created a scavenger hunt and coloring book project to put in the backpacks for kids staying there. Located across the highway from CPW’s Sands Lake State Wildlife Area, Molly House has easy access to places residents can walk, spend time outside, and observe birds and other wildlife. This partnership helps connect housing support with outdoor access in a practical way by providing residents with the gear they need to go birding and enjoy nearby natural areas during their stay.