In 2021, Fresh Start Center, formerly High Plains Helping Hands, distributed 240,000 pounds of food to more than 7,000 families. Grant Winger, executive director, said this year the food bank is trending 25 to 30% higher.The increase is from the impact of the pandemic and the economy, Winger said. ìThe pandemic definitely had an impact. Many people were losing work,î he said. ìThings started to get better when government funding came in. But now that the stimulus payments and child care tax credit payments have gone, thatís been hard on people.îWinger said the economy is taking a toll on families who might have been doing OK before but are now having trouble making ends meet. ìFuel prices are up 50% over last year, and weíve seen grocery prices go up 20%. Peoplesí incomes havenít adjusted in the same way,î he said.Fresh Start Center started 15 years ago serving a limited number of zip codes in Falcon. Winger said the need to fight hunger and poverty has substantially grown over time. The center has extended the service area to include all of El Paso County and Lincoln and Elbert counties. They are also a distribution site for the Everyday Eats Program, formerly the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, serving older adults age 60 and over.The center depends on the community and many partnerships to provide services and stock the shelves with fresh produce and shelf-stable foods, Winger said. They are one of 283 Care and Share food pantry partners in southern Colorado. They also depend on grocery stores and restaurants, churches, Scout troops and businesses.The center has a summer garden at their location, with 36 5 feet by 10 feet raised garden beds. Volunteers help maintain the beds and teach community members how to grow produce in the Colorado climate. They work with local farmers and grocers. ìSince we serve families in the eastern plains, we have a good network of farmers that are producers and growers,î Winger said.The focus on fresh food started in 2018. ìWe made a push to have an emphasis on more nutritionally dense foods with a high amount of fresh produce,î Winger said. ìWe started building partnerships; and, by 2021, over 29% of all food we distributed to our neighbors was fresh produce. We were excited to see that we could provide meals that included fresh foods and not all out of boxes and cans. We all know that nutrient dense foods have a greater impact on productivity and health.îThe center relies on about 80 regular volunteers throughout the year. Winger said they are always looking for people who can help with daily operations. ìIf someone has a pickup truck, they can help with food rescue from stores and restaurants,î he said. Winger encourages anyone interested in volunteering to ìstop by, take a tour and see how weíre making an impact.îThe Fresh Start Center does more than distribute food to those in need.Nurses help connect people with health care services, including vision and dental. They can also help with navigating insurance benefits and the health care system. ìWe can go through and determine need and the best resources available,î Winger said. Since 2020, with the help of community partners, they have been able to provide 200 pairs of eyeglasses and eight full sets of dentures.The center also works with businesses and organizations to connect their clients with employment opportunities.Fresh Start Center welcomes walk-in customers. ìWe donít believe people should have to be on a schedule when it comes to finding help through times of emergencies,î Winger said. The center is located at 7375 Adventure Way in Colorado Springs at the Woodmen and Black Forest interchange. The food pantry is open every Tuesday and Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the first Wednesday of each month, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Nursing hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Medical insurance specialist hours vary. Call 719-495-3123 for current hours.ìWe want to thank everybody that has helped support us,î Winger said. ìWe just couldnít survive without the help and support from the community to keep us going.î
