PRESS RELEASE – NUMBER OF FEBRUARY CLIENTS AT FOOD PANTRY MORE THAN DOUBLES FROM 2023 TO 2024!

Normally, February is our slowest month at the FISH Food Pantry located in the heart of Historic Westminster. In February 2022, 357 clients received emergency food assistance. In February 2023, 309 clients received emergency food assistance. It is typically a time for us to regroup and refresh the pantry area. However, February 2024 was different!

In February 2024, we provided emergency food assistance to 769 clients! Although the majority of clients come from Westminster, we also support clients from the surrounding area including Thornton, Northglenn, Commerce City, unincorporated Adams County, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, and Denver.

While the increase in clients is fueled in part by the arrival of recent immigrants to the area, immigrants make up only a portion of the increase. The cost of housing and energy is the primary driver for most of our clients to seek our assistance. Many of our senior clients find that the money they set aside for retirement doesn’t go as far as they planned. Parents are having a hard time stretching their salary dollars to feed themselves and children the entire month. Singles are struggling to afford food even if they work a second job. Clients living in their cars or in tent camps struggle to eat even once a day.

Given our small size, we distribute pre-packed boxes of non-perishables to clients. Clients are allowed to visit once a month and receive sufficient food for 10 meals per family member. Three times a week we stock the pantry shelves in the food pantry in advance of volunteers coming in to pack these boxes. Three times a week volunteers pack large and small boxes. We are distributing thousands of pounds of food each month.

It takes a large number of volunteers and an even larger number of generous donors (private, corporate, and non-profit organizations) as well support from city and county governments to meet the needs of our neighbors week after week.

Please reach out to us if you would to volunteer or to donate to our efforts!