Submitted / Debbie Patrick
Individuals dealing with food insecurity will have a bit more of a menu to choose from come mid-July.
LIFT-UP, a grassroots organization that provides humanitarian needs across Garfield, Pitkin and Eagle counties, announced plans earlier last week to gradually reopen fixed “pantries of choice” sites throughout the summer, a LIFT-UP news release states.
Pantries of choice offer clients the option to select nonperishable, fresh produce, meat and dairy items that were otherwise unavailable during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Clients were previously offered pre-packaged bags throughout the pandemic
“It’s exciting because as we all are emerging from COVID, we are being able to reopen pantries as they were prior to COVID,” LIFT-UP Marketing and Development Director Debbie Patrick said. “… Some people find they’re more comfortable going through a mobile option, drive through, get a bag of food and move on. And other people really like to be able to go into the pantry and choose their food, both non-perishable and fresh.”
During the pandemic, LIFT-UP food pantries were being used as mobile distribution sites. Clients could simply drive up to a site and receive a food package.
Starting July 14, however, the LIFT-UP food pantry in New Castle will once again offer its pantries-of-choice options. Carbondale and Glenwood Springs LIFT-UP pantries are scheduled to reopen in August, while Rifle’s pantry is slated to open in September, the release states.
Patrick said reopening the food pantries with choices should help clients feel more comfortable and less nervous about coming back to the sites in person.
“It broadens the opportunities for people to find their comfort level and how they’re going to get food,” she said. “Our goal is to get more people more food in the most efficient manner. This gives them a choice between mobile and the pantry.”
Submitted / Debbie Patrick
Parachute will remain a mobile distribution site at this time, as the facility currently serves as the warehouse for all mobile-bag packing and food storage sites, the release states.
No appointment or identification is needed. Clients are asked to provide basic information including their name, home address and number and ages of adults and children in the household.
As far as trends are concerned, LIFT-UP has come a long way since October 2020, a time when LIFT-UP distributed more than 1 million pounds of food.
“People can have a health crisis and end up being in a food-insecure situation. The loss of a job,” Patrick said. “We see all walks of life. We see all ages, from teens to seniors, from veterans to disabled.”
“You’ll see people that walk up in a suit — that might be the only clothes they have left,” Patrick added.
Since then, Patrick said LIFT-UP has seen the number of clients decrease recently.
“As we’re emerging from COVID, we are seeing a downtrend in numbers closer to how they were prior to COVID,” she said. “And then also, some of the mobile pantries that are being distributed with partners are reducing the frequency.”
According to data provided by LIFT-UP, more than 22,000 individuals have been provided food from the nonprofit between January and May 2021.
The food is purchased from Food Bank of the Rockies, donated through the Grocery Rescue program provided by Garfield County then food drives are hosted, as well as purchased, through LIFT-UP’s Farm to Food Pantry program.
Drive-thru (mobile) food distributions will continue providing pre-packed food bags at sites in Carbondale, Glenwood, New Castle, Parachute, and Rifle, as well as, walk up distribution from the LIFT-UP Aspen Pantry, the release states.
In addition, LIFT-UP Extended Table (soup kitchens) will be moving back inside and will be either grab-n-go or buffet service. Glenwood Springs has already reverted to this format and Rifle Extended Table will begin on Tuesday, July 13, the release states. Guests are asked to respect social distancing guidelines and non-vaccinated persons are requested to wear a mask.
Reporter Ray K. Erku can be reached at 612-423-5273 or rerku@postindependent.com
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