Our Plans for Wellington’s Community Services Center & Food Pantry
What are we doing?
Grace Village recently purchased property to create a permanent home for the Wellington Community Services Center & Food Pantry.
The property at 3520 Harrison Rd. Wellington includes a 2,323 square foot warehouse on three city lots with fenced yard. The building will incorporate a designated space for the Food Pantry with large freezer, cooler, and shelving for food distribution and storage. The facility will also include five offices to accommodate other social service organizations including Larimer County Health & Human Services. The lot has ample parking and room for expansion.
We are launching a campaign to renovate, expand, and equip the building, creating a facility that will allow us to provide the uplifting and life-enhancing resources necessary to support our community’s most vulnerable.
Why are we doing this?
As the town of Wellington has expanded, so has the importance of the Food Pantry. The number of people living in poverty has increased and food insecurity has escalated. In the past year alone, we have seen a stunning 40% increase in individuals served.
The current Food Pantry is open only 2 afternoons/month, set up in a temporary room at a local church. We average 80-100 families/week, over 200 families during the holidays. We know from speaking to our clients that many rely on us for more than half the food consumed in their home. The annual value of pantry access to households is $600-$1000, value per visit $65-$80. We know this program is not sustainable nor meets the needs of the community.
What is the goal?
Our goal is to create a permanent home for the Food Pantry, allowing for expanded hours and greater variety of food; to meet the critical needs of our community. Grace Village has the funds to purchase the property outright. We are looking for support – both in dollars and in-kind services – to remodel the property with the first priority to finish the space for the Food Pantry with a goal to open this fall. The project will include design and build out of the space to meet our needs including adding walls, insulation, HVAC, electrical, bathrooms, entryways, and landscaping.