Families in financial need have a place they can turn to on the eastern plains. In May 2006, Helping Hands Food Pantry opened its doors at 14755 Highway 24 on property owned by the Woolsey family.Jean Woolsey coordinates the food pantry operation, which is sponsored by Mountain Springs Church. Mountain View Electric Association, the Falcon Business League, schools, other churches and community members contribute. Care & Share assists with food.Helping Hands offers support to local residents under a “no questions asked policy.” Woolsey said helping with emergency situations is a priority. “A family where one spouse loses their job may not qualify for food stamps, but they also may not be able to pay their bills, leaving them in the position where paying the electric bill may mean going without food,” she said.”While one or two families may take advantage of the situation, the majority of people coming to our facility have real needs. Most never thought they would be in this situation, but an accident or family crisis suddenly places them in a financial situation where they need some short-term help. There are also other families living out here who are dirt poor and may need more long-term help.”Since opening their doors, the pantry has donated food, clothing and household items to more than 450 area families. Volunteers at the pantry spend hours sorting through donated clothing. Overused clothing with stains and tears is discarded, and good re-useable clothing is placed on racks according to size, much like you would find in any department store. Residents are free to sort through the clothing, taking whatever their family can use, Woolsey said.This summer, the pantry offered school supplies to clients with school-age children. A $1,250 donation from Wal-Mart helped to provide new backpacks stuffed with notebooks, binders, pens, pencils and other supplies for 140 students.Last winter, the pantry gave away 124 blankets and 102 Christmas baskets and held a toy drive that provided Christmas presents to 97 children. The Lions Club also donated coats, gloves and scarves for the pantry to distribute to needy families.Woolsey said the pantry has adjusted its food distribution policy to accommodate residents struggling with high gas prices. “Normally, a family would come to the pantry once a week to pick up a week’s supply of food, now they can stop by once every two weeks and get a two-week supply of groceries,” she said. “That should help them conserve their gasoline.”Future plans include opening a thrift store. Proceeds from the sale of second-hand items will provide money for families having trouble paying utility bills or rent. Woolsey also said she wants to expand the scope of the pantry’s mission to include classes designed to increase self-sufficiency. “I want to provide programs that will empower people,” she said. “Classes in budgeting are essential, along with classes that teach people how to interview and dress for a job.”Cooking classes that teach people how to create meals from scratch are necessary because basic food items are less expensive than pre-packaged foods, Woolsey said. “But today many people don’t know how to turn flour, beans or rice into nutritious meals,” she said. Other potential classes include basic auto maintenance and computer literacy.Woolsey is currently seeking a grant to build a community center on her property. The center would provide classrooms and space where various community groups can meet.An “Emergency Kit Drive” is under way. The drive will provide folks with blankets, flash-lights and other supplies necessary to survive winter driving conditions. And donations of food, clothing, paper products, personal hygiene products, socks, undergarments, and cleaning supplies are always needed, she said.For now, Woolsey struggles to help an increasing number of families who need financial assistance. “Just this week, 35 more families asked for help,” she said. “And the pantry has opened its doors to families from as far away as Limon.”For more information, contact the Helping Hands Pantry at 749-2090.
