Volunteer Rob Nelson honored for supporting Colorado military families

Rob Nelson, founder of the Colorado nonprofit Heart2Hand, is being recognized as the November 2026 Hero of the Month for his work with military families. He has led the organization for more than a decade, providing food assistance, diaper drives, clothing donations and other outreach.

Heart2Hand’s signature event, Turkeys for Our Troops, will take place Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Tailgate Tavern in Parker. The fundraiser benefits the Warriors Warehouse at Fort Carson, a free distribution center that supplies household goods, baby items and food to families in need.

“It was turkeys for a while, frozen turkeys, which got difficult to transport. Now it’s mostly grocery cards and checks for Fort Carson’s Warriors Warehouse,”

Nelson explained that the event has shifted from collecting frozen turkeys to providing grocery cards and checks, making support easier for families. He added, “Anytime I hand a family diapers or food or anything that might help them get through the month, I always feel the gratitude.”

Ranya Kelly, founder of the Warriors Warehouse, shared a personal connection: “My own son was a Kiowa pilot, two tours in Iraq, and came back with stage four lymphoma, traumatic brain injury and PTSD.” She said the warehouse was created to give a hand up to families facing similar hardships.

What this means for Aurora residents: the fundraiser offers a local way to assist military families who live and work throughout the metro area, including those stationed at Fort Carson. Contributions of grocery cards, checks or volunteer time directly support the warehouse’s distribution of essential items.

What’s next: the Turkeys for Our Troops event runs Nov. 10, 3:30‑6:30 p.m. at Tailgate Tavern, Parker. Residents are encouraged to attend, donate grocery cards or checks, and help sustain the Lifeline that Heart2Hand and Warriors Warehouse provide to Colorado’s service families.