GPHC Food Pantry News: Feb 2012
January was a very busy month. We’re growing, we’re working to expand our services, we’re celebrating volunteers and we’re planning for Easter.
At this month’s Greater Park Hill Community Board Meeting, I announced that the GPHC Food Pantry has gone from serving 144 people to serving 514.
Many in the community don’t know that, in order to help the growing number of needy families in Park Hill, the GPHC Food Pantry purchases food from the Food Bank of the Rockies to supplement the donations it receives.
Since the Food Bank of the Rockies only has certain items in stock, several items cannot be purchased on a regular basis: toothpaste, adult diapers, soap, tampons and other personal care items are seldom available to us. Diapers, detergent, dish soap and other household items can only be purchased some months. Park Hill residents and other donors have stepped up and donated boxes of these needed items. We thank you.
Because we are growing, I need help. I was placed at GPHC by AARP, so we are looking for another person (potentially from the AARP as well) to help me with data entry, filing and other clerical duties.
We are also looking to provide a service to jobseekers, and are looking for one or two computer donations so we can help people prepare resumes and search online in our community room. Please contact me if you are interested in volunteering.
Our volunteers are valuable. They are a wonderful group of dedicated people who want to give back to their community. They unload trucks when food is brought in and spend hours organizing food on the shelves. Some are retired, while others are unemployed. If you are looking for help of any kind, contact me to see if we can connect these skilled people to meaningful work.
We celebrated our volunteers at a luncheon catered by Famous Dave’s BBQ on January 5th. It was good eatin’, jazz played in the background and it felt like a family picnic.
Our Christmas Adopt-a-Family program was very successful. I would like churches, families and schools to contact me if you are interested in participating in an Easter Adopt-a-Family program.
A single mother in need called crying on a day when the food pantry was closed, and GPHC Executive Director Heather Leitch personally packed up the items she needed and drove them to her. We care about people who need help in Park Hill. Thanks to everyone who supports us.
The GPHC Food Pantry is located at 2823 Fairfax St. It is open to Park Hill residents Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Clients must provide a current piece of mail and a photo ID. Donations are accepted Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sandra Henderson can be reached at 303-388-0918 or gphcfoodpantry@gmail.com.