What is #NoMoreEmptyPlates?
#NoMoreEmptyPlates is the rallying cry of the Little Chapel Food Pantry. You see, in Colorado, 1 in 7 are facing food insecurity; 1 in 5 children do not know when or if their next meal is coming. In Teller County and surrounding areas, 18.7% of children are facing food insecurity.
1 in 7 in Colorado are facing food insecurity.
In Teller County, almost 3,000 people are facing food insecurity. That's a lot of empty plates!
In fact, that's about this many plates:
These nearly 3,000 empty plates represent those facing food insecurity and hunger in Teller County.
SINCE 2011, OVER 3.59 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD HAVE FED THOSE FACING HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY.
Since 2011, the Little Chapel Food Pantry has distributed the equivalent of 343 mid-sized African Elephants of food to those in need.
THAT'S A LOT OF FOOD - AND IT WAS USED TO FEED A LOT OF PEOPLE.
MORE THAN 80,000 PEOPLE IN OVER 30,000 HOUSEHOLDS HAVE RECEIVED FOOD IN THE LAST 6 YEARS.
But we haven't done any of this alone.
We thank our donors, partner organizations, and especially our volunteers who have made it possible for the Little Chapel Food Pantry to fill almost 30% of the empty plates in Teller County.
Think you might want to get involved? We could certainly use the help!
In 2022, we used almost 6,000 volunteer hours by October, and that is before our huge Thanksgiving Distribution.
The Little Chapel Food Pantry has utilized over 6,000 volunteer hours in 2022 alone.
But why does the Little Chapel Food Pantry Exist?
In 2001, Ruth and Manny Martinez saw a need in Teller County and opened a one-room food bank in the church they attended. It began as members of the church providing for other members facing food insecurity. In 2003, the ministry changed its name and broadened its outreach as it became the Little Chapel Food Pantry. Ruth and Manny passed the mantle to another couple, who managed it for about 6 months, and then turned it over to Ken and Judi Hesselberg who have been managing the food pantry for 20 years.
Beginning as a one-room, one hour a week endeavor, it has grown into a massive 3,360 square foot, bi-weekly, three hour non-stop operation requiring 239 volunteer hours at each distribution.
All of this because we love our neighbors and want no more empty plates in Teller County.
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”
