New locationAs of November, the High Plains Helping Hands food pantry has found a new home on the campus of Mountain Springs Church.ìMountain Springs has been gracious enough to let us use the facility,î said Craig Swan, volunteer and building facilitator for HPHH. ìWe won’t be a part of Mountain Springs, although they’re one of our biggest supporters.îHigh Plains director Rose Mizer said the new facility will be about 1,800 square feet ñ 300 more square feet than the old facility. ìThe new (facility) has vaulted ceilings so we can store things upwards,î Mizer said. ìWe’re in such a cramped little space now but once we move, everything is going to be different … we’re going to have a separate reception room, prayer room, offices and a back room where we store and bag the food.îMizer said the move was facilitated in part by grants from several local businesses, including $1,000 for shelving from Ent Federal Credit Union’s community fund; $1,700 for a commercial scale from Farmer’s State Bank; $5,000 from Mountain View Electric for food received earlier this year. ìIt’s awesome that these companies have decided to Ö take part in this vision and this mission of helping out neighbors,î Mizer said.Thanksgiving driveEach year, the pantry holds a Thanksgiving food drive to provide turkeys and other items to people in need. In addition to turkeys, the pantry is asking for gift cards to grocery stores so recipients can purchase their own ingredients for Thanksgiving meals.As the cold weather approaches, the pantry is also accepting winter coats and blankets.New servicesSwan said that HPHH is planning to offer classes to its patrons on budgeting, healthy eating and other areas of interest. ìThat’s the direction we’re heading right now … to help empower them rather than enable them,î she said.
