About Us
Feeding our community through our community.
About Us
Begun in 2009 our pantry was located in a small storage room at a local church, supported solely by the church. We started with 250 sq. ft. of shopping space with 600 sq. ft. of storage space. For the prior two years the pantry was led by a single person with a handful of volunteers. Under that leadership many additional sponsors were identified and donations began arriving. We quickly outgrew our space and moved into a 5,000 sq ft building in May of 2023. Currently, we have over 30 volunteers helping to feed our community.
We are 100% volunteer run and many of our volunteers are patrons of the pantry. We firmly believe that active community involvement is critical to reaching our full potential. We rely heavily on local farmers and ranchers to grow and raise many of the foods that fill our shelves and freezers. Donated funds or grants are spent with our local and regional farmers and ranchers. Essentially, for EACH dollar we spend with our local producers TWO entities benefit, the patron and the producer. It is vital to keep plowing back into our rural underserved community, so our WHOLE community eats.
Our pantry operates as a "market style" experience. When a patron visits our pantry, they receive a shopping cart and shop the isles selecting the foods that appeal to them. We try to provide as many nutritious foods as possible with many organic items. All at no cost to the patrons.
We also partner with these two food insecurity programs.
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) a.k.a SENIOR BOXES
This is a federal program that provides seniors living on a restricted income, ages 60 and up, with extra food each month, at no cost. An individual is required to register and qualify for this monthly senior box. We deliver many of these boxes to shut-ins.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
This is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of people living on a restricted income by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost. This food is received and distributed through our pantry. It is also “select for yourself” shopping. You choose the foods out of the TEFAP sections that you would like to take home. We also assemble TEFAP boxes and deliver approximately 50 boxes a month to shut-in folks.
We have been vetted by the following organizations to provide volunteer opportunities for their beneficiaries:
“For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in.”
- Jesus
Core Values
1 in 15 people in Archuleta county visit at least one food pantry weekly. We hold that these vulnerable people need to feel valued and acknowledged.
We believe that without food, there can be no energy, no employment and no economy.
All people, from every background, walk of life, and culture are welcome.
We acknowledge that food insecurity is an incredibly heavy burden which we endeavor to alleviate. We are here to serve.
Impact In Numbers
1,175 families fed per month
3,372 people supplied with food
$129,000.00 worth of food donated and dispersed monthly
Working with over 20 Colorado-based farms, ranchers, and producers to stock the pantry
Feeding people within a 35 mile radius
5,000 sq ft space for patrons to collect what they need without feeling cramped or rushed
30 volunteers donating their time and energy