Barbara Lawlor, Nederland.  In the past year, the Food Pantry served some of the 27 percent of working families in Colorado who do not have enough food to meet their basic needs. It distributed 78,000 pounds of food to those in need. It assisted 3,447 people in the fight against hunger in our service area. It served 288 people each month. It gave 128 holiday boxes, which provided food for 347 during the season, and it partnered with Canyon Cares and the Community  Clothing Closet to expand their circle of service.

“If Everyone Gives a Little…Everyone Can Eat.”

Nederland residents took the Nederland Food Pantry motto to heart and showed up at their 3rd Annual Fundraiser, the Madcap Holidays of May on Saturday. The theme of the night was based on National Recommitment Month, urging people to renew their commitment to Fight Hunger in Our Community.

So, volunteers decided to also honor National Hamburger Month and offer burgers and hot dogs from the Pantry Cafe.

Signs posted throughout the Nederland Community Center gym and cafeteria reminded guests that it was also National Bike Month, National Backyard Games Week, National Taffy Day, National Salad Week, National Get Caught Reading Month, National Lost Sock Mourning Day and National Wear a Tiara Day.

Booths reflecting these national holidays were spread around offering advice, giving away Salt Water Taffy from the Candy Man Store, offering bowling games and other activities in the gym and selling salads with a vast assortment of toppings.

Wine and beer were available to enjoy with the dinner. Laura Fisher, of Windspiration Gardens in Eldora, brought in about 100 pepper and tomato plants ready for transplanting and there were dozens and dozens of much needed or desired items in the silent auction, including large bags of potting soil for the tomatoes and peppers.

Soon, warmer weather will bring in the campers from around the country, the transients looking for a place to a live, and this summer, we will most likely see the workers from the Peak to Peak repaving project looking for somewhere to stay in the area.

The money raised on Saturday will go towards filling up the shelves in the food pantry and providing basic toiletry needs and fresh produce as local gardens begin to come to fruition.

Donations are always welcome. National Donation Month was in April but it’s not too late to bring food or money to the Nederland Food Pantry to help them stock up for summer.