By Kristina Sparks
The crisp chill in the air means the holidays are rapidly approaching. For many people, this season can bring stress about financial obligations, including putting food on the table and affording life’s basic necessities. In El Paso County, there are dedicated organizations that rely on donations, government assistance, businesses, grants and community members to help them support local families in need.
Donations can be nonperishable foods, unspoiled food, monetary and other various items, depending on the organization.
Services in Eastern El Paso County
Fresh Start Center
7375 Adventure Way
Colorado Springs, CO 80923
719-495-3123
grant@freshstartcenter.com
Fresh Start Center, a local food pantry and 501(c)3 charitable organization, accepts any nonperishable foods as well as monetary donations, but they do not accept clothes or toys for the holidays because of limited space. Grant Winger, executive director, said, “This year, we have continued seeing up to 15% growth in service requests but are also experiencing a reduction in donations by roughly 40%. As of right now, the biggest hurdle we see will be collecting enough turkeys for our Thanksgiving distribution.”
This year, they have a Turkey Drive with Eastern Plains Chamber of Commerce and Mountain View Electric. “Turkeys are currently being accepted at all locations during their business hours through Nov. 22,” Winger said.“The distribution will be held Saturday, Nov. 23, for all who were able to sign up in advance. We ask for frozen whole turkeys and breasts. We serve an area of northeast Colorado Springs and the Eastern Plains with the plains being our target demographic.”
Turkey donations can be dropped off at Mountain View Electric, 11140 East Woodman Road in Falcon, the Lordino Allstate Office at 7685 McLaughlin Road, Stuite 120 or directly to Fresh Start Center.
Pantry hours are Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., and the first Wednesday of the month, from 4 to 6 p.m.
There is a donation box available for nonperishable food donations. For any questions, call or email.
Eastern Plains Community Pantry
701 4th St
Calhan, CO 80808
719-347-3062
epcp2013@hotmail.com
The Eastern Plains Community Pantry, located in Calhan, accepts nonperishable food donations; as well as donations of clothing, small household items and money.
Cheryl Lopez, director of the pantry, said, “Well over 1,000 people are served each month through our pantry. We help people from Matheson to Rush, Ellicott, Elbert, Peyton, Kiowa and Falcon. We even have homeless people come in, and we provide food for them that doesn’t require cooking. The need for nonperishable food donations has greatly increased this year.” The Pantry estimates around 100 families will receive a Thanksgiving meal this year and 150 families will receive a Christmas meal.
The pantry hands out Safeway gift cards for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The money comes from donations made to the Holiday Helpings Program at the Falcon Safeway. The recipients of these cards are people who are already in the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), or qualify based on income level. To receive assistance, a family must bring in a Colorado ID or military ID, or proof of income to the pantry.
The pantry is open Mondays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Saturdays 10 a.m. until noon. If you have clothing and small household items to donate, you can call and ask for Susie Starr to schedule a donation, as the pantry doesn’t have the space to store these items and/or the resources to pick up donations.
During the holidays, there is a toy giveaway program for children. Unwrapped toys of all kinds can be donated. The age range for donations are infant to age 9, ages 10 to 12, and ages 13 to 18 (if still enrolled in school). The collection for toys is currently in progress until Dec. 16.
Monetary donations can be made either directly in cash, or by check, made out to the Eastern Plains Community Pantry. If a check is sent in for any holiday programs, write “holiday program” in the memo; otherwise, the funds will be put in the general pantry fund.
Grace Community Church
9475 Grace Church View
Falcon, CO 80831
719-494-1576
Grace Community Church accepts nonperishable food donations regularly. They are having a Thanksgiving Food Drive and a Christmas Dinner food drive and partner with District 49.
If you are interested in donating food, please call the church to schedule a time. According to Michael Anderson, the pastor, said, “In years past, any additional donations that the church didn’t disperse were given to Fresh Start Center.”
St. Benedict Catholic Church
12130 Falcon Hwy
Falcon, CO 80831
719-495-1426
stbenedictfalcon.org
St. Benedicts accepts nonperishable food donations all year. Monetary donations can be given online on their website. They host three major Food Drives per year, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. The church hours are from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, for food donations. Dee Murillo said the church is part of the St. Vincent de Paul Society network, and their focus is helping to prevent homelessness.
