By Rose Chavez
Archuleta Food System/Food Equity Coalition
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 nonperishable food items will be distributed twice a month to four locations in the county. These include: Lower Blanco, pull off U.S. 84 onto County Road 335; parking lot of Aspen Springs Bar and Grill, 43 Buttercup Drive; parking lot of Hickory Ridge Apartments, 216 N. 8th St.; and parking lot of Lakeview Estates, 857 N. Pagosa Blvd.
The delivery intends to provide easier access to prepacked 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 to June. 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. We will not be asking for address or contact information. For questions, please contact the Archuleta Food System/Food Equity Coalition at (401) 371-3227 or fsfearchuleta@gmail.com.
Mobile locations, dates and times
U.S. 84 and County Road 335, Lower Blanco: April 5 and 19, May 3 and 17, June 7 and 21; 1 to 2 p.m.
U.S. 160: Aspen Springs Bar and Grill parking lot, 43 Buttercup Drive: April 6 and 20, May 4 and 18, June 8 and 22, 1 to 2 p.m.
Uptown, Lakeview Estates parking lot, 857 N. Pagosa Blvd.: April 5 and 19, May 3 and 17, June 7 and 21, 5 to 6 p.m.
Downtown, Hickory Ridge Apartments parking lot, 216 N. 8th Street: April 6 and 20, May 4 and 18, June 8 and 22, 5 to 6 p.m.
