Town turns its library into a headquarters of hope

In the town of Bennett, 30 miles east of Denver on the plains, mental health support can be hard to come by. There’s no local full-service medical center. No equivalent human services center. And for residents without reliable transportation, driving long distances to the nearest provider isn’t always an option.

But there is a library.

At Anythink Bennett, a small red building just off the town’s main street, staff quietly fill gaps left by the behavioral health system. For many families facing hardship, the library may be their first or only steady source of support.

In collaboration with Adams County Public Health, Anythink Bennett helps families apply for benefits, access food and diaper drives, and connect with early childhood intervention programs.

“Many can’t make the trip to Wes