The Gilpin County Food Bank will have a food drive on November 11, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. They need holiday meal basics. Recipients of holiday food baskets will get a turkey, but the Food Bank needs turkey breasts and whole chickens for small households. They also need corn, green beans, cranberry sauce, crispy onions and other items for side dishes for a holiday meal.

Gilpin County also hosts a Holiday Toy Drive. Each October, families can submit wish lists for their children. Children may ask for clothes, books, and toys. People in the community select an anonymous wish list to shop for new items. If you are interested in fulfilling a child’s wish this upcoming Holiday season, or in submitting a list for your child, please contact the County.

If people would like to fulfill a child’s wishes, they can contact Courtney Peters at 303-582-5444. If families need to fill out a wish list, call Peters. If you would like to adopt, donate, volunteer, or need additional information, please contact Peters by phone or email courtney.peters@state.co.us.

The Gilpin County Food Pantry, a part of the Department of Human Services, would like to extend the opportunity for you to help those in our community who could use an extra hand this Holiday season. You can help by:

• Asking for a wish list of a child - wish lists will be available starting November 17.

• Gifts are due in our office by December 15.

• Donating stocking-stuffers for kids 12 and under, also due December 15.

• Donating food.

• Thanksgiving food by November 17 at 3:30 p.m.

• Holiday food by December 15, 3:30 p. m.

• Donating money for gifts for children or food for families

• Volunteering - Help is needed on:

November 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 11a.m.

November 21 from 12:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

December 15 and December 16.

December 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

December 19 from 12:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

For Holiday meal boxes, please donate by December 15 at 3:30 p.m.

Gilpin County Human Services and the generosity of the community help brighten the Holidays for families who can use some extra help. They ask that parents submitting wish lists for their children keep wishes reasonable and fairly inexpensive, such as no computers, iPads, tablets, phones or video game systems, etc. They also ask that parents be specific regarding sizes.

• Wish Lists need to be returned to the Human Services office by November 8.

• Gift pick-up is on Saturday, December 16 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Gilpin Justice Center. If a family cannot make it on that date, please call and make arrangements to get the gifts.

• Holiday meal boxes can be picked up at the Gilpin Food Pantry in addition to regular food pantry shopping at 101 Norton Drive. You will need to RSVP for each of these special boxes.

• Thanksgiving boxes will be available November 21 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. as a drive-thru at the food pantry.

• December Holiday boxes will be available December 19 from 1 to 3 p.m. as a drive-thru at the food pantry.

To reserve a box or if you have any questions, please call Courtney Peters at 303-582-5444 or email at courtney.peters@state.co.us. You can sign up in person at the food pantry on Thursday afternoons from 1:30 to 3:45 p.m. at 101 Norton Drive, or at Human Services during regular office hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The Gilpin County Food Pantry is available to all Gilpin County residents regardless of income. Each household can shop once per week.

Any questions about the Gilpin Food Pantry can be answered by Corinne Keller at 720-432-6120 or at ckeller@gilpincounty.org.