DENVER – At the Women’s Bean Project in Denver’s Athmar Park neighborhood, you’ll find soup mixes, condiments and snacks packed by women making a fresh start.

“We hire women who are chronically unemployed and work together to help them overcome their barriers so they can enter the mainstream workforce in their community,” says Tamra Ryan, executive director of the Women’s Bean Project.

Ryan believes that employment can break down barriers.

“Barriers can be many things – a history of addiction, prison time, homelessness and domestic violence,” says Ryan. “What all of these things have in common is that they make it difficult for women to get and keep a job.”

The nonprofit relies in part on purchases and donations, but volunteers like Jen Spahr, a retired consultant, contribute even more to production.

“The women can meet with someone who has worked and developed these skills over time,” Spahr said. “That’s invaluable and something that a medical examination can’t necessarily provide.”

Spahr’s role includes educating and mentoring these women every step of the way.

“After just a few months, her confidence exploded,” Spahr said.

“She is so committed to our organization that she goes above and beyond,” Ryan said. “She serves as a role model for the women and also for our staff, and we are the winners because she chose to be with us.”

That’s why Spahr was selected by her colleagues after a decade of service and honored this week as a Denver7 Everyday Hero!

Denver7 features a different everyday hero every week. To nominate a hero in your life, Click here.