For the second year, a partnership between Steamworks Brewing Co. and Colorado State University Extension Office in La Plata County has delivered 100 meals to local families.
“Holidays are meant to be for family and fun, but then you start to get stressors of trying to pay for presents, and ornaments and trees,” said Darrin Parmenter, interim co-regional director of CSU Extension Southwest Region. “Sometimes, food can get expensive, so we really hope to offset some of that cost for some folks.”
Parmenter said the Extension Office saw a need in 2020 to help struggling families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because the pandemic is still going strong, the office decided to bring back the meal donations.
A GoFundMe fundraiser for the meals brought in more than $4,000, which was about double the amount raised last year.
“The last two years have been hard, but there are people who have been struggling out there for years,” said Nicole Clark, family and consumer science agent at the office. “It’s not a forever solution, but it’s something we can do to make one meal extra-special for families in need.”
This year’s meal consisted of chicken enchiladas, pozole, salad and cookies. Cooks at Steamworks Brewing Co. made the meals, and the local 4-H Club made sugar cookie decorating kits to go with them.
“Steamworks donates a lot of time and energy to this, and this year, we were able to give them a little bit extra to work with,” Parmenter said.
More than just a meal, each of the 100 bags handed out included a $25 gift card to City Market. About 60 of the meals were delivered Tuesday, and the remaining 40 will be available for pickup at the fairgrounds.
Durango resident Lana Hill was thankful to be one of the 100 people to receive a meal.
“It’s a great relief,” she said. “It’s nice not having to worry about one other meal.”
Clark said it’s important to her to be able to give food out during the holidays.
“Food is obviously an essential thing that we all need, but it also brings us together,'' she said. “I think of food as a way to nourish the heart and soul.”
Part of Clark’s role in organizing the meals was finding people who needed a little help this holiday season. Many of the families were identified through social media and community partners, she said.
“We put out posts on social media and share with community partners who tend to serve lower-income families and the ethnically diverse,” she said. “We wanted to make sure we were reaching out to those who may need it.”
Durango resident Cindy Aguilar said she’s very grateful to receive a meal for her family this holiday season.
“It’s a load off to help me get four kids who are out of school some extra food for the holidays,” she said.
njohnson@durangoherald.com
