Nederland Food Pantry Executive Director Chris Current has retired from the position after 36 years with the Pantry. The Food Pantry Board of Directors celebrated her retirement and career with an event at Chipeta Park in Nederland at 3 p.m., Saturday, June 11.

In 1986, concerned members and church leaders in Nederland came together to address the issue of hunger and other unmet needs of some of our neighbors in our mountain community, according to the website. Current said it all started with the three churches in town having a Christmas dinner, and then they decided the food pantry was needed all the time.

In the true spirit of community, the Nederland Community Presbyterian Church offered a room for weekly food distribution, and St. Rita’s Catholic Church provided space for storage of back stock, according to the website. For the next 25 years, while very grateful for the spaces provided, the volunteers faced the arduous tasks involved in the weekly set up and take down necessary for food distribution.

In 2012, the Town of Nederland offered the newly renamed Nederland Food Pantry space in Nederland Community Center’s West Wing. The new space also allowed the Pantry to revitalize the adjoining passageway behind their room and transform it into a garden that now helps provide clients with fresh produce and herbs.

During and after the “100 Year Flood” in 2013, the Pantry partnered with the Town to be on the front line in providing emergency shelter, food, social services, and emergency relief information for those affected in this mountain community. As a result of this experience and its lingering effects, the Pantry expanded services to neighbors throughout the Peak to Peak Mountain area.

In 2015 the community came together and the pantry applied for and gained 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and the Nederland Food Pantry Board of Directors was formed. They selected Chris Current to be Executive Director. She would lead the organization until 2022, when she retired from more than 30 years of service to the community as a food and basic needs champion.

In 2016 the Nederland Food Pantry answered the call of need when the Cold Springs Fire forced evacuations and a shelter and recovery support were needed. Chris led the Pantry to be ready with support again in 2020 and 2021 for wildfire events that affected the region. Covid was the last big challenge that demanded Chris’ talents. She worked diligently to meet the expanding needs of the community and helped the Pantry grow once again.

The Pantry’s mission is to relieve hunger and provide basic needs support to the Peak to Peak Community in a respective and compassionate manner. Their goal is to continue to focus on building collaborations and partnerships to ensure clients and the community continue to receive needed services.

The Nederland Food Pantry, Clothing Closet and gardens rely on the generosity of individual donors, seeks assistance from agencies, foundations and organizations and solicits donations from businesses. The Nederland Food Pantry would not exist without the help of numerous volunteers who donate thousands of hours every year working in the gardens, picking up food items,sorting and processing clothing, fundraising, lending a hand with every needed task, as well as making our customers feel welcome and safe and helping us meet our communities needs.

Chris Current has remained the driving force behind the organization since its inception although she is quick to point out that its success is due to many other committed community members over the years. The reception for Chris Current at Chipeta Park included meats and cheeses and drinks.

Mayor Pro-Tem Tom Mahowald presented Chris with a Town of Nederland proclamation that June 11, 2022, be named Chris Current Day of Community Service. Chris also received a letter from the Boulder County Commissioners acknowledging her many years of service.

For more information about the Nederland Food Pantry go to https:// nederlandfoodpantry.org/.