By Rose D. Chavez
The Mobile Food Pantry is a pilot program of the Food Pantry Network of the Archuleta Food System/Food Equity Coalition. This effort intends to expand the capacity of the existing food pantries to make food more accessible in underserved areas of the County to community members with limited access to food.
The goal of the Mobile Food Pantry is to bring food closer to those who can use it and who live in areas of the county that are harder to serve than others. For instance, many individuals experiencing food insecurity may not have transportation to get to one of the existing food pantries or be able to access the pantries during their normal business hours.
Through the Mobile Food Pantry, a supply of non-perishable food items will be distributed twice a month to 4 locations in the County. These include Lower Blanco (pull off Highway 84 onto CR 335), the parking lot of Aspen Springs Bar and Grill (43 Buttercup Dr), the parking lot of Hickory Ridge Apartments (216 N 8th St), and the parking lot of Lakeview Estates (857 N Pagosa Blvd.)
The delivery intends to provide easier access to pre-packed food boxes by clients. Folks will get a two-week box with items such as cereal, pasta, peanut butter and canned vegetables and beans. Fresh items may include apples, potatoes and onions.
The Mobile Food Pantry will run as a pilot effort from April 2021 – June 2021. There is no need to register to pick up a box. It is first come first served. Community members need to simply show up with masks in place on the designated dates and times noted below. Since we are partnering with the Care and Share Food Bank, we are requesting names and the number of people in households.
If community members don’t have a vehicle to access the new mobile locations, they are welcomed to send another community member in their place to pick up food pantry bags for them. Again, the only requirement is that they provide their name and number of adults, children and seniors in the household. We will not be asking for addresses or contact information.
If community members would like to make a donation to the mobile pantry effort or volunteer to build food pantry bags or for other questions, please contact the Archuleta Food System/Food Equity Coalition at 401-371-3227 or fsfearchuleta@gmail.com.
Rose D. Chavez, MPH, is Healthy Communities Advocate with Community Health Planning.
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