REACH Pikes Peak is a resource and emergency services center, with a location in Calhan; and Carl Finney, the Calhan center manager, would like to increase awareness within the community of the services they offer.ìEven though the agency has been in Calhan for over 20 years, we just don’t have the name recognition in the community,î Finney said. ìSo, we’re trying to make the community at large, and especially those people in need of the services, know that we are here for the community; and we are here to help.î REACH stands for resources, education, assets, community and hope.He also said the organization implemented a name change about a year ago. ìREACH Pikes Peak used to be Pikes Peak Community Action Agency,î Finney said. ìWe have the same mission. The name change came about to not only get something shorter but to indicate to the public a bit more about what we are about.îREACH ó or PPCAA ó has been in existence since 1964, Finney said, adding that he believes the Calhan center opened in 1993.In 2014, they provided 348 financial services that included assistance with utilities, rent, medical bills, transportation and housing rehabilitation.From January through April 2015, they have provided 138 financial services in the same categories.†ìThe center here in Calhan is an emergency services center or family stabilization center, so we provide emergency assistance one time per household in a 12-month period,î he said. REACH can help with utilities and rent, and help families connect to other resources. ìWe do referrals so people know about food stamps and the LEAP (low income energy assistance) program,î Finney said. LEAP, which is a federal program, is available Nov. 1 through April 30 to help families with heating needs.REACH also works with senior citizens. ìWe make sure people are aware of the food programs available to them. We can sometimes help with medications or health and safety-related things,î he said. ìI have a lot of resources so I can generally help people find an agency if we can’t help directly.îFinney, who has been with REACH since 1996, is full-time and the sole staff member in Calhan. ìHere in Calhan, it’s just me; and I am seeking a volunteer to assist with the receptionist activities, to answer the phone and greet clients,î he said. ìI lease space from the Eastern Plains Community Pantry. There is a food and clothing bank here, so there are a lot of volunteers there and they help me out as needed, but no one is specifically designated for the REACH counselor.îUpcoming events for REACH include the Lion’s Club Kids’ Spree, which provides clothing and school supplies to low-income children. School districts eligible for the program are Calhan School District RJ-1, Peyton School District 23 JT, Miami-Yoder School District JT60, Ellicott School District 22 and Edison School District 54JT. ìThat activity provides clothing and school supplies to low-income children so they can start school each fall under somewhat more even keel with the rest of the kids,î Finney said. The spree is Aug. 1 at the Falcon Walmart, and REACH will screen applicants, who must qualify financially.ìWe will be taking applications here at the center during the month of June,î he said. ìWe take new applications from people who have not participated from Monday, June 15, through Friday, June 19, then open applications to returning candidates, starting June 22.î They take applicants until the 100 slots are filled. ìWe usually fill them up pretty easily,î Finney said. This year, he said they are trying to reach out to new applicants as well.ìWe work with applicants at about 125 percent of the established poverty level or below,î he said. ìFamilies need to provide documentation of income, which is true of all programs provided through REACH.îREACH Pikes Peak in Calhan is located at 701 4th Street ó the former Pikes Peak co-op building. The website is http://reachpikespeak.org, and the Calhan location’s phone number is 719-347-2976.
