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Our Services
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The goal of the food program is to prevent hunger by providing nutritious food for
low income people on the west side of Colorado Springs. Food customers include
people of all races with some Spanish-speaking people, elderly people, people with
disabilities, and working families with one or two working parents who are not
making enough to afford their regular monthly expenses.
We welcome volunteers from our member churches, schools and community organizations
as well as our neighbors and community service workers to assist in the pantries.
The community that is created is strong because of its diversity and provides
positive benefits for all participants.
Neighbors in need of food are welcome to come to Westside CARES main site
(1930 West Colorado Ave.) to get food vouchers that may be used throughout
the week at one of our six local food pantries. The only criterion for
accessing services is an individual's or family's genuine need. A three-day
food supply is available to any Westside resident up to six times a year.
We were able to assist 4,535 households with food in 2006.
Pantry Location Guide
- Monday -- Sacred Heart Church,
2021 W. Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO 80904
1:00pm - 3:00pm
- Tuesday -- Trinity United Methodist Church,
701 N. 20th St., Colorado Springs, CO 80904
1:00pm-3:00pm (Westside Commodity Pantry is open at the same time)
- Tuesday Evening -- Church in the Wildwood,
10585 Ute Pass Ave., Green Mtn. Falls
6:00pm-8:00pm
- Wednesday -- Westside Community Center Pantry,
1628 W. Bijou St., Colorado Springs 80904
1:00pm-3:00pm
- Wednesday -- Stratmoor Hills Community Food Pantry,
2027 B Street, Colorado Springs, CO
1:00pm-3:00pm
- Thursday -- Sacred Heart Church,
2021 W. Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO 80904
1:00pm-3:00pm
- Thursday Evening -- Westside Community Center Pantry,
1628 W. Bijou St., Colorado Springs 80904
4:30pm-6:30pm
- Friday -- Manitou Community Congregational,
103 Pawnee Ave., Manitou Springs, CO 80829
1:00pm-3:00pm
Sacred Heart Church
2021 W. Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO 80904
For information call (719) 389-0759
Each week, an average of 100 men, women and children receive a free hot meal through The
Lord's Dinner program, which is hosted at Westside CARES member church, Sacred
Heart Catholic Church.
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The goal of the Financial Assistance Programs is to create hope by providing
immediate, caring assistance for emergencies in the lives of low-income people.
We have seven financial assistance programs: Rental Assistance, Utility
Assistance, Clothing Vouchers, Laundry Vouchers, Bus Tokens, Eyeglass Vouchers,
and Medical Prescription Assistance.
- Rental Assistance Program
Rental assistance is available on a limited basis to west side neighbors
once they meet all of the criteria.
- Utility Assistance Program
Westside CARES works with Colorado Springs Utilities and project COPE to
assist west side neighbors in need with paying their utility bill.
- Clothing Voucher Program
Clothing vouchers are given to all neighbors in need of clothing and are redeemable
at several Colorado Springs Goodwill stores and at Pikes Peak United Methodist Church.
One voucher is available per household every six months.
- Laundry Voucher Program
Laundry vouchers are provided for neighbors who are west side residents and
are redeemable at West Side Coin Operated Laundry & Dry Cleaning located at
2323 West Colorado Avenue (3 blocks west of WSC, just west of 24th on the
south side). There is a maximum of two vouchers per household per year.
- Bus Token Program
Up to six bus tokens per month (valued at $1.25 for one ride) are available
to Westside residents who are in need of transportation:
- to meet medical appointments,
- to get to a job, job interview, or to apply for a job,
- to get home with food from the food pantry.
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Imagine being discharged from the hospital after a serious illness
and not being able to afford the medicines your doctor has prescribed to make you
well. Our Medical Assistance Program provides financial assistance to purchase
prescription medications for west side residents who are unable to afford prescribed
medication themselves.
- Penrose-St. Francis Mission Medical Outreach
Faith Community Nurse
Providing services that
enhance the wholeness of bodies, minds, and spirits, by integrating faith, health, and community resources to aid our neighbors in need.
In addition to Westside CARES,
Penrose-St. Francis Mission Medical Outreach provides Faith Community Nurses to Ecumenical Social Ministries, Northern Churches
Care, and Tri-Lakes Health Advocacy Program.
Working in collaboration with other community organizations, our Faith Community Nurse arranges for
neighbors to get medical care, long term prescription assistance, dental care, and
mental health care for themselves and their children.
She also provides referrals to doctors, dentists, and other health care providers
who accept Medicaid and Medicare patients.
- Prescription Assistance Program
Assistance for prescription needs may be available to west side neighbors depending
on their situation. Neighbors seeking prescription assistance will meet with our
pastoral nurse who assesses the qualifying criteria and medical needs on an
individual basis.
- Eyeglass Voucher Program
Westside CARES offers financial assistance for eye exams and/or corrective glasses
for west side residents. A vision voucher is issued and is redeemable at the 8th
Street WalMart Vision Center. Vouchers are available for adults and children.
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Back-To-School Backpack Project
One of Westside CARES favorite projects is our annual Back-to-School Backpack Project.
Our goal each July is to collect stuff and deliver 500 backpacks with new school
supplies to school-aged children in need on the west side. While each of the
Westside CARES’ member churches donates a designated number of assigned items
to the drive, individuals are also encouraged to participate by donating school
safety scissors, packages of ballpoint pens, or packages of colored pencils.
For delivery deadlines or other questions, contact Deb Mitguard, at 389-0759, ext. 108.
Spring & Fall Food Drives
At our Spring Food Drive last May, volunteers from
all of the member churches collected over $17,000 worth of food. These donations
are vital to the operation of the six church-based Food Pantries! This is
especially true in this time of economic uncertainty and cut backs from Care and Share.
To Volunteer:
To hand out brochures and receive food donations at west side grocery stores, contact
Ann Smith at 520-9510.
To transport food from the stores to Westside CARES, truck owners and others
should contact Steve Brown at 389-0759, ext. 101.
To sort food for distribution to all of our church-based food pantries, contact
Joan Corder at 687-6925.
Finally, to donate money, food, organize a group of volunteers, or if you are not
sure where you can be the most help, please contact Deb Mitguard at 389-0759, ext 108.
Thanksgiving Baskets:
Once again this year Westside CARES will put together
80 Thanksgiving baskets to give to our neighbors in need. Westside CARES gives
vouchers to 11 west side elementary schools, who determine the recipients. Those neighbors then
come to our offices the week of Thanksgiving to pick up the basket. Each basket
contains the food items that will make a traditional holiday meal for a family.
Food donations may be dropped off during normal office hours at Westside CARES.
Financial donations for this project are also accepted either in person or mail
check to Westside CARES, 1930 W. Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs, 80904.
Christmas at Westside CARES:
In addition to the usual services that Westside CARES assists with, during the
holidays there are two unique, seasonal programs that we administer for neighbors
in need.
Christmas Adopt-A-Family
At the end of every October, letters are sent to the counseling offices of 12 west side elementary schools for families
in need to apply to be "adopted" for Christmas. Last year, 53 families (98 adults/188 Children) were adopted
by friends and supporters of Westside CARES. It is not too early to let us know if you are interested in helping
make someone's Christmas a bit brighter. Please leave a message at 389-0759, ext 108,
if you are interested in adopting a family.
Christmas Unlimited
Westside CARES also partners with Christmas Unlimited in helping needy families
with children 12 and under get gifts for Christmas. Many organizations throughout
town process very detailed applications of families in need. Once the applications
have been sorted, verified, and checked for duplications, the parents then are able
to make an appointment to "shop" for presents for their children at the Christmas
Unlimited warehouse.
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Home
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For details and contact information about other local service providers go to:
2-1-1 provides toll-free one-call access to over 400 service providers across
six East-Central Colorado counties. The 2-1-1 Call Center can be reached weekdays
by dialing 211 on your telephone. It is a service of the
Pikes Peak United Way.
Pike's Peak Library District for an extensive list of local social service providers:
click on "community databases"
then click on "agencies"
then click on "subject search"
Community Partnership for Child Development/
Head Start for an extensive list of local
social service providers:
click on 'media/publications'and click on 'Community Resource Directory 07-08.
Colorado Springs Survival Manual: Services and Resources for
homeless, uninsured,
underserved, & those in need of temporary assistance
click on "survival manual" under the heading "quick links"
or click on download and then click on "Colorado Springs Survival Manual"
Department of Human Services in El Paso County
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