Overcoming Barriers to Feed Our Neighbors
At the heart of Community Food Share’s mission lies our foundational pillar: “Feeding People.” This commitment extends to every corner of our community, from our Feeding Families Onsite Pantry to distributing food to our 40+ partner agencies. However, for many in our community, accessing essential resources such as food can still be an uphill battle. The mere distance from a local pantry can makes it difficult to access the food they need to feed themselves and their families. That’s why, instead of
asking everyone to come to us, our Mobile Pantries program takes the initiative, bringing food directly into the heart of the community.
Accessing essential resources such as food shouldn’t be an uphill battle. However, we understand for many in our community the mere distance from a local pantry makes it difficult to access the food they need to feed themselves and their families. That’s why, instead of asking everyone to come to us, our Mobile Pantries program takes the initiative, bringing food directly into the heart of the community.
Bringing Food Into the Community
With four pop up pantry locations that take place anywhere from once a month to bi-weekly, we ensure that regardless of where our neighbors may be located throughout Boulder or Broomfield Counties, there is a resource available to them.
Making a Difference
The beginning of Larry’s journey with Community Food Share was rooted in sheer necessity. “We were in a fix and just didn’t have the money coming in,” he recalls.
As Larry searched for solutions, geographical convenience played a crucial role in finding assistance. He knew about the pantry in Louisville, but as he points out, “I just couldn’t afford to drive all the way to Louisville all the time.” Larry’s predicament is one faced by many, and it’s this exact challenge the Mobile Pantries program seeks to address. The discovery that we had a pantry just down the road in Longmont was a blessing. For Larry, it was less about the distance and more about accessibility.
“I have four grandkids to support – I went searching for food banks, and because you have a pantry just right down the road from where I live, it made it more convenient for me.”
What’s Next for Mobile Pantries?
Larry’s story is a testament to the tangible difference the program makes throughout the community. As the number of people relying on the program continues to surge, we’ve extended our reach even further—adding more distributions and introducing new sites throughout the community. It’s through the direct impact our programs are able to make that we truly realize the essence of our mission: “Feeding People.”
This story originally appeared in our Fall 2023 Newsletter.
