Our Community Eats (OCE) is on the move.
We are thrilled to share that OCE has secured a permanent location to better serve our patrons who face food insecurity. Currently situated in the former Sears building on Cornerstone Drive, OCE will soon be moving to its new home at the former Tennyson Building Events Center (TEC), located at 197 Navajo Trail Drive.
Katherine Solbert, OCE president, expressed her enthusiasm: “Securing our own facility has been a long-time goal, allowing us to streamline our operations and serve our community more effectively.”
Lindy Waldrop added, “This new building secures our future and enables us to focus even more on serving the people who rely on us. May 2024 was a milestone month for OCE as we provided food support to nearly 3,500 individuals.”
The OCE Board would like to acknowledge the benefit the TEC has contributed to the Pagosa community in the past, and in the same spirit, OCE plans to use the facility as a food pantry to ensure everyone has enough to eat in our county. OCE understands the importance of continuity in service and will keep our patrons informed about the timing of our move. We will do everything possible to minimize any disruption to our essential services.
Tasha Kossler expressed thanks: “With the amazing volunteers who are willing to help with the move of our equipment and inventory, we should be able to transition and settle into our new facility quickly with minimal interruption to serving our community.”
None of this would have been possible without the incredible support of our community.
Sandra Dillon, OCE treasurer, remarked, “We are deeply grateful for the generosity of a community member whose financial support made this move a reality.”
Kodi Trujillo, vice president, added, “And we have been overwhelmed by the generous support of people who will help with the setup of the interior to make it operationally friendly for our needs.”
If you are interested in learning more about OCE, the impact we make, or if you would like to contribute to our mission, please reach out to Solbert at katherine@ourcommunityeats.com or visit our website at www.ourcommunityeats.com.
Together, we are making a meaningful difference in the lives of families in Archuleta County and beyond.