Loveland nonprofit sees rising demand

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The nonprofit said the need for food has gone up 101% and could use the community’s help to keep up.

LOVELAND, Colo. — The need for food has been rising for years now, according to the House of Neighborly Service (HSN).

Over the last two years, the nonprofit said it’s gone up 101% and could use the community’s help to keep up.

“Thus far, January through September, we’ve seen 13,800+ individuals. Now, that can be duplicated, but it paints a picture of how many people in our community are actually needing food,” said HSN executive director Cherri Houle.

She said pre-COVID, during the same time frame, they saw 6,000+ individuals using their food program.

“Food is one of the things that many times people cut because they’d rather stay housed. They’d rather keep their utilities on,” said Houle. “We are a preventative measure with food and clothing, utility help, gas, to come alongside them for a help-up when they’re in crisis or when they’re trying to survive and stay in their house.”

She said they’re seeing an increase of unhoused youth and seniors, as well as young families struggling to get by.

“How we get this food is through our neighbors. This is churches that do food drives. This is the Food Bank that gives to us. This is businesses that do food drives and then community members come by here and drop off food on a regular basis,” she said. “This is a community caring for those that are in need and in crisis.”

As the need and inflation continue to rise, it’s getting harder to keep their pantry shelves stocked.

“Oatmeal for us to purchase has gone up 48%,” said Houle. “Milk has gone up 24%.”

But, despite the pressure they’re feeling, their pantry still manages to give out more than just food.

“It’s given me faith and hope,” said Isaac Waddell.

As much as Waddell receives from the pantry, he also wishes to give back.

“Always thought if I won the lottery, this would be the first place I would want to donate to,” he said.

Houle said they’re able to continue their mission because of neighbors who donate.

“Community members caring for community members,” she said.

It makes all the difference for people working hard to get by.

“Because they receive, they want to give,” said June Tate.

Tate has been volunteering at HSN for eight years.

“That’s why I like this job because I’m helping other people,” she said.

We introduced you to Tate in December 2022, a year when the need for their services overall doubled.

Tate is in charge of directing people to the right place. She’s given many helping hands to those in need, who in turn give right back.

“There was a lady waiting to go into the food room… and she said, ‘Hey there’s a lot of bread today, why don’t you get some?’ and I said, ‘Well, I’ll have to read the ingredient list because my husband’s allergic to eggs,’ and she said, ‘Allergic to eggs? Oh my, I’d hate to cook for him,'” said Tate.

In this case, Tate said the woman she helped came right back to help her. She brought her biscuits, requiring no eggs.

“She was telling me how much she appreciated getting all the food she could get that she needed for her family but she also wanted to give part of it away,” said Tate. “It made me wanna cry and I do now.”

June told the woman thank you, but didn’t take the biscuits. She did take one thing, though: hope.

“Makes me feel hopeful that I know when they’re able, they’ll be able to do for others, as we’re doing for them,” said Tate.

HSN has other basic need services like prescription assistance, gas vouchers, bus tokens, free clothing and household items, among other things. They can also help connect people to housing.

Besides food and monetary donations, HSN said it is also in need of clothing, especially coats. HSN also welcomes any volunteers who are willing to donate their time.

Here’s a list of food the pantry currently needs: