LOCAL FEATURE PAGE TITLE LITTLE FREE PANTRY STRIVES TO IMPROVE LIVES BY GRACE THORBURN PIKES PEAK LITTLE FREE PANTRY started as two thrift store drawers on the front lawn of Hailey Radvillas’ residence. Today, the pantry includes a minifridge, drawers, and refurnished shelves – all donated by community members. Radvillas was inspired to create the pantry in 2020, during a time of civil unrest and as the COVID-19 pandemic was in full swing. By January 2021, Radvillas’ idea came to fruition, and today, it is open 24/7 365 days a year. “When you’re seeing unrest everywhere, you’re seeing people getting killed by cops, you’re seeing people hungry, seeing people on the streets,” said Radvillas. “Then, you vote and feel like [your vote] is not doing anything.” After seeing the success of the Denver Community Fridges and The Love Fridge based in Chicago, Radvillas believed a similar project could benefit her own community. Every month, the pantry – which is based solely on donations – provides fresh produce, homemade meals, or other needed food for hundreds of people, and thousands of people have benefitted from the pantry since it opened. “We’ve gotten to know neighbors…not only neighbors coming to give and take at the pantry, but our own neighbors,” said Radvillas. As word of the pantry spreads, more food becomes available, but according to Radvillas, increased awareness of the pantry means they will need to meet growing demand. “[The pantry] is empty a lot of the time… the need is way higher than expected, and it just keeps growing because of the cost of groceries, the cost of housing, the cost of everything,” Radvillas said. When Radvillas and her husband first moved from Chicago to Colorado Springs, the district where they relocated was the only blue district in the City of Colorado Springs. “We have neighbors who don’t like [the pantry], want it gone,” said Radvillas. “They claim it brings people into the neighborhood, even though they already were here.” Aside from a few individuals, who have expressed their opposition to the pantry, Radvillas said she’s been amazed by the support the pantry has received. “It’s not just our neighborhood; it’s people from all over the city who found us, and who give.” Despite the misconceptions of some, Radvillas said the majority of people who come to the pantry aren’t individuals experiencing homelessness. “Of all the stories I’ve heard, not a single one wanted to live on the streets,” Radvillas said. She continued by saying there are many misconceptions about homelessness. “When you’ve gotten so low, there’s no social safety net and you don’t have anyone to help you climb your way back up, which costs so much more money than people think,” said Radvillas. Hannah Bragg, a Colorado Springs resident and the graphic designer for the Denver VOICE, has been a champion for the pantry since its inception. COURTESY OF PIKES PEAK LITTLE FREE PANTRY July 2023 DENVER VOICE 11 “I think the folks who’ve created the pantry have worked hard to communicate and demonstrate to both their housed and unhoused neighbors that this is a safe and necessary form of mutual aid,” said Bragg. “I’ve lived in the Westside neighborhood since 2019 – and having this pantry start up was a game-changer for me.” Bragg said that the practice of giving what you can and taking what you need is freeing. “It gave me a way to help my community without being involved in a religious entity, which can exclude individuals who aren’t comfortable praying before receiving a hot meal or walking into a faithbased location to receive canned goods,” she said. Radvillas hopes the rest of the community echo Bragg’s sentiment about the pantry. “The little things seem so minor, but they’re huge hurdles when you have nothing to your name,” said Radvillas. Her goal for Pikes Peak Little Free Pantry is to continue to make sure her fellow community members’ needs are met. According to Radvillas, since she launched the pantry, multiple people have come to her and said, “Without you, I’d probably be dead.” In October of last year, the pantry was nearly permanently closed due to being in supposed violation of a bear can ordinance. This is because the pantry is located across from a restaurant where a code enforcement officer had been dining. After coming out of the restaurant, he noticed that a carton of raisins had spilled on the ground and that a squirrel was eating the raisins. According to Radvillas, she was unaware that there was a code stating that anyone who lives on the west side of Colorado Springs is supposed to have bear-proof cans. Despite this regulation, Radvillas explained that unless they live in the mountains, few people have bear-proof cans. This includes local parks in the area that are run by the city. After facing media pressure and shifting their focus to supplying toiletries for a weekend, Radvillas received a call from the head of code enforcement, letting her know that Pikes Peak Little Free Pantry was not in violation. “We have no plan to shut down at all unless we are forced to,” said Radvillas. “Even then, we will fight it tooth and nail.” Pikes Peak Little Free Pantry has not only changed Radvillas’ perception but also that of her friends and family. “When people know you’re telling a first-person account, it helps their mindset [about those in need],” she said. Radvillas wants others to realize that they can make a difference in the way she has because we don’t know what our neighbors are going through. According to Radvillas, the takeaway is to listen to people. “These are human beings,” Radvillas said. “These are our neighbors.” ■ Pikes Peak Little Free Pantry is located at 516 W. Pikes Peak Ave., just west of downtown Colorado Springs. They are listed on littlefreepantry.org. VOLUNTEER WITH US! We are looking for volunteers to support our program coordination by helping with paper distribution and basic offi ce administration at the Denver VOICE offi ce (989 Santa Fe Dr.) from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. If you are interested and would like to know more, contact us at: program@denvervoice.org DONATE YOUR CAR! Need to get rid of your car, truck, or motorcycle? Consider donating it to Denver VOICE. Call (855) 500-7433, or go to: careasy.org/nonprofi t/denver-voice. Your donation helps Denver VOICE succeed in its mission to provide individuals experiencing homelessness or poverty the chance towards a more stable life. The Denver VOICE empowers homeless, impoverished, and transient individuals by creating job opportunities through our vendor program. We facilitate a dialogue addressing the roots of homelessness by telling stories of people whose lives are impacted by poverty and homelessness and to offer economic, educational, and empowerment opportunities for the impoverished community.
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