Safety Net
Beginning in early 2025, working with the Chaffee County Leadership Roundtable, CCCF convened the Safety Net Leaders Group — a coalition of leaders from organizations and agencies that provide essential, immediate-needs services across Chaffee County. The group works together to ensure our community’s safety net remains strong, coordinated, and accessible to those who need it most.
To support this effort, the CCCF Board has activated the Emergency Response Fund, directing resources to specific projects identified by the Safety Net Leaders.
Scroll down to learn more about current calls to action, funding allocations, and programs in progress.
Call to Action
As our community navigates the current challenges created by federal program disruptions, this page will share real-time community calls to action — ways you can step in and help when needs arise.
Current Need: Help prevent hunger in Chaffee County.
Many of our neighbors are experiencing interruptions to food assistance, and action is needed now. Our local food security network is working double time to support more and more families. Please consider making a donation — and, even more importantly, volunteering your time — to ensure everyone in our community has access to nutritious food.
VOLUNTEER
Click on a link below to sign-up for food distribution support.
Caring & Sharing: Multiple roles needed to support Resource Center
Guidestone Colorado: Community & School Farm, Free Community Fridge
Ark Valley Christian Mission: Multiple roles needed for pantry and client assistance
PfCA: Volunteers needed to staff 2SLGBTQIA+ friendly resource center
Central Colorado Area Agency on Aging: Multiple roles needed for Meals on Wheels
Donate
Our community food programs need monetary donations. They can efficiently use every gift to help their program serve the most people. Donate to the organizations providing direct assistance or donate to the Emergency Response Fund to fund widespread support for food assistance.
Chaffee County Hospitality, Inc.: Low barrier Emergency Shelter & Meal for unsheltered individuals.
Salida’s Caring & Sharing: Resource Center provides a pantry, propane assistance, meals and more.
The Grainery: Pantry, Donations can be mailed to PO Box 303 Salida, CO 81201 or brought to the pantry on Mon & Fri 10 am - 3:30.
Congregational United Church of Christ: Weekend Backpack Food Program feeding school children over the weekends.
First Presbyterian Church: Pantry, meals, financial assistance and more
Guidestone Colorado: Farm produce distributed to food insecure, Free Community Fridge
Ark Valley Humane Society: Pet food pantry
Colorado Farm To Table: Farm produce distributed to local pantries.
Ark Valley Christian Mission: Pantry and other financial assistance.
Salida Community Center: Monthly food box pick up and other food services.
Partnership for Community Action: 2SLGBTQIA+ friendly pantry and other services.
Food Drop-Off
Check out this flyer developed by the Colorado State University Chaffee County Extension for a list of drop-off locations and times. Please note - Many of our pantries have limited storage space. Please consider a weekly or monthly drop-off to help out!
Preferred Food Donations:
Hot & Cold Cereal
Pasta
Personal Hygiene Items
One Dish Canned Meals
Fresh Produce
Protein
Canned Meat
Pet Food
Additional Drop Off Options:
Salida Pregnancy Center will accept baby food, baby and adult hygiene items, adult food for registered clients. Drop-off during open hours posted on website.
Ark Valley Humane Society is in need of pet food for pet food pantry. Drop-off during open hours Monday - Friday 12 pm - 5 pm.
Page will be updated as new locations become available.
SHARE
Please help us in sharing food access information across our community. Hunger is a common challenge that is often hidden. SNAP benefits alone impact approximately 1,200 Chaffee Households and our pantries have already seen a steady increase in visitors this year. Share the Food Access Flyer to help those in need find a pantry or hot meal.
Current Projects & 2025 Activations
Chaffee County Hospitality - Extension of Emergency Shelter Program: $8,200
ChaffeeResources Initiative - Connecting those in need to services: $45,000
Guidestone Colorado: Free Community Fridge Project activated at A Church for Food Access
Colorado State University Chaffee County Extension: Produce donation initiative to address fresh produce shortages at local pantries
Funds At Work Radio Series: Interviews with organizations receiving federal dollars to educate and raise awareness for how federal dollars impact the things we care about locally.