Good afternoon friends of Care and Share!

In today’s leadership meeting, we heard updates from each department of our organization and how each team is gearing up for the summer. This includes new summer feeding programs for children  and their families at risk of hunger, educational opportunities with our on-site gardens (check our blog Wednesday for more information), and really great work happening with our Cooking Matters program (more information to come).

Our warehouse staff has been very busy too. Last week, Care and Share distributed 275,421 pounds of food!

Last week, 176 volunteers came to our warehouse, donating 422 hours of their valuable time. The Independent Sector has recently calculated an increase in the estimated value of volunteer time, which means these volunteers gave the equivalent of $10,837 worth of work!

We are in need of volunteers this summer to help us with some importrant work. Our two highest needs are:

Refrigerator Sorting and Packing – A perfect opportunity to stay cool in the warm months ahead! We have a sorting and packing shift every Saturday from 1:00 to 3:30 pm for 7 people who want to help us sort meat donations for our neighbors at risk of hunger

Mobile Farmers Markets in Pueblo -These Mobile Food Pantries for Pueblo families and students are held at Centennial High School and Risley Middle School. Pantries are held at two locations on the same day every Thursday, starting June 18th and concluding on July 30th. Each location requires 14 volunteers. Volunteers must be 16 and older. Please contact Amber Coté at amber@careandshare.org if you and/or a group are interested in helping with this fun and important direct service opportunity!

We are very excited about all of the ways that we are working together to help alleviate hunger for our Southern Colorado neighbors in need. Thanks for your support and for sharing in our belief that no one should go hungry!