Each year as the holidays approach, High Plains Helping Hands food pantry, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves the eastern plains area of El Paso County, looks to the community to help fill the gaps for provisions they need for the almost 2,000 clients they serve each month.Dianna Frazier, food pantry manager, said the pantry currently has food drives in motion; however, the food runs out quickly, especially in December when their clients receive a turkey and an additional bag of food, along with their regular monthly allotment.ìWe are going to need canned yams, canned pumpkin, green beans, boxed stuffing ó things that you would find in a traditional holiday meal,î Frazier said.The food pantryís hours of operation for December are Tuesday and Thursday of the first three weeks of the month, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with an additional day on the 15th, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The last day of operation for the year is Dec. 20; the pantry will re-open Jan. 8, Frazier said. The pantry is located at the Mountain Springs Church, southeast of the intersection of Woodmen Road and Black Forest Road in Colorado Springs.Aside from the food drives, Frazier said the pantry is working on other ways to support their clientele. This spring, the pantry will launch a new program called ìAdopt a Plot.îAnyone can participate in the Adopt a Plot program, which will provide fresh food from one of the pantryís onsite gardens, while also offering education and an employment opportunity for the pantryís clients, she said.ìWe are very appreciative and grateful for all the holiday food drives taking place, but we operate year round and need help throughout the year,î Frazier said.
