In the News

Since opening in 2006, the food pantry has become a trusted and vital, if not entirely known part of the local ecosystem where people can show up for help to bridge a gap between seasonal work, when going through a hard time or simply looking for a way to help others. The pantry is now preparing to move into a larger space and plans to expand its ability to meet basic human needs in the Gunnison Valley. 

Boy Scout Troop 476 delivered 485 pounds of food to the Gunnison Country Food Pantry during their holiday community service. The scouts extend special thanks to Ace Hardware for the bags and to the community households that helped fill them. Standing in the back row are Jonathan Robinson, Spencer Hays, Kade Jones, Jonny Pierce and Scout Master Josh Pierce. In the front are Margaret Cranor, Lincoln Hemmert, Katie Dix, and Ethan Pierce.

The first time I wandered into the Gunnison Country Food Pantry on Ohio and Main, I felt like an imposter. I was in graduate school at Western Colorado University and working part-time.

Moving to Gunnison by myself and not knowing anyone meant some safety nets had dissolved for me. It had always been my dream to live in Colorado. I had too much pride in that decision to call back home and admit I only had canned green beans and rice in my pantry.

Jarrett first came to the Gunnison Valley about 20 years ago. “In the beginning, I made snow up at Crested Butte during the winter and did ranch work in the summer,” he shared. He loved working outside, but found it difficult to live off the low wages, especially during the shoulder seasons. “Unfortunately for me, the Pantry didn’t open until 2006.”

Katie Dix reflects about the past year in a special essay for Crested Butte News. If grocery store shelves were emptying due to the pandemic, would the flow of surplus food from our local stores and distributors decrease?  What to do? What to do?