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Metro Denver food bank in danger of closing

Posted at 5:06 PM, Sep 26, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-26 20:30:32-04

BROOMFIELD, Colo--- A Broomfield food pantry is in danger of closing at the end of the year because of a major financial crisis.

“We were absolutely starving when we got here, and we’re doing so much better now because we have this place to come to, and I can’t imagine if we didn’t,” said Tracy Tovatt.

Tovatt has been homeless for two years and depends on the North Denver Cares Food Pantry for necessities.

“If they don’t have this facility it will have a huge impact on not only us but a lot of other people too,” said Tovatt.  

And that’s a very real possibility for the 300 families the food bank serves every week.

The pantry depends on many small donors to stay afloat, but it recently lost a $50,000 sponsor because a donor family sold their business.

North Denver Cares executive director Bryan Decker says the group counted on that yearly donation to pay its $3,500 a month rent.

Decker is working to make up the money, but if he can’t the pantry could close at the end of the year.

“Probably 40 percent of our clientele are seniors, and they’re on a fixed income or very low income, so we try to serve them and help them out, and many times they have to decide if they’re going to buy food or buy medicine,” said Decker.

Decker worries other food banks in the area will be overwhelmed by the influx of his clients if they’re forced to close the doors to North Denver Cares.

The food bank has plenty of food donations but needs financial help.

If you think you can help, please visit www.northdenvercares.org to donate online.