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Because no one should go hungry
Oliver makes difference through Tri-Lakes Cares
David Lowe
A suggestion between bridge buddies is still paying dividends nearly 15 years later.
Sharon Christensen suggested to Carrie Oliver that Oliver volunteer for Tri-Lakes Cares. Fortunately for the community, Oliver took her suggestion.
Oliver joined Tri-Lakes Cares as a volunteer in 1995 when Tri-Lakes Cares operated from the basement the administration building for District 38. Today, Oliver is the assistance programs manager, a part-time salaried position. She is the coordinator of all food drives for Tri-Lakes Cares.
These are hard times for many families in the Tri-Lakes area that are unable to provide the basic necessities for the family such as food. What makes it even harder for many is that asking for assistance is a new experience.
Tri-Lakes Cares is a community resource center that meets the emergency food needs of the community. Volunteers and paid personnel work together to meet those needs.
Oliver’s many duties include overseeing the Emergency Food Pantry where she manages approximately 100 volunteers in making sure food is available when needed.
The Emergency Food Pantry serves a dual purpose.
“It not only feeds the people, but it helps preserve their limited income to meet other financial obligations in lieu of buying food,” Oliver said.
Another drive is the Harvest of Love. This is in conjunction with District 38. The students bring enough food during the drive to help maintain food requirements for a year.
The Buy it Forward is another program administered in conjunction with King Soopers. In the first week of each month, one can pick up a small bag clearly marked as part of the Buy it Forward program. If filled it would contain four or five items.
While checking out, the contents of the bag are scanned along with the shopper’s other grocery items. The bag stays at the store, and the items are shipped to Tri-Lakes Cares.
The Federal Commodity Subsidy is surplus USDA food distributed by Care and Share. To qualify for the program, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen and fall within income guidelines.
Oliver also coordinates the Senior Supplement program. People older than 65 years on a fixed income qualify.
“They can ask for favorite food items, like candy, and diet restriction food like gluten free, and low salt items,” Oliver said.
One holiday program includes a box of food at Thanksgiving and another at Christmas, along with gift certificates from Safeway for perishable items such as milk, eggs and butter. The boxes include a turkey at Thanksgiving and a ham at Christmas.
“We gave out 300 boxes last year, and we are currently signing in now for this year,” Oliver said.
Tri-Lakes Cares is expanding into a community resource center offering an array of needed services.
It has a children’s gift program and a school supply program, which helped 270 children with their school supplies. District 38 provides the list
It also administers the Energy Outreach Program, with money received from the state.
The services and programs are always expanding. New programs include a medical clinic operated by a retired U.S. Air Force doctor and a Penrose Hap Nurse. There is a volunteer psychiatrist by appointment only.
It is also a GED testing site. The Pikes Peak Work Force Center is upstairs and operates from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays.
If Tri-Lakes Cares is unable to assist a person’s need, it has the knowledge to refer the person to other organizations.
Hangers is a thrift shop that benefits Tri-Lakes Cares and that operates from a separate location at 341 Front St.
Oliver understands the role of agencies helping people in need. Her father was a 30-year career Air Force officer. The military is always helping others in one way or another. She married an enlisted man who became an Air Force officer. She was active in the Air Force Officers Wives Club in myriad projects.
“We’re big Air Force supporters, we go to everything, and are members of Friends of Air Force Basketball,” Oliver said. “We’ve sponsored eight Air Force cadets.”
She even finds time for her two daughters, Tami and Heather, and her two grandchildren, Ashley and Tyler.
Tri-Lakes Cares is at 235 Jefferson St. in Monument. You can reach TLC by phone 719-481-4864 or www.tri-lakescares.org. Hours are noon to 3:00 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays.
Tri-Lakes Cares
Address: 235 Jefferson St., Monument
Phone: 719-481-4864
Web: www.tri-lakescares.org.
Hours: noon to 3 p.m. or 6-8 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays
A suggestion between bridge buddies is still paying dividends nearly 15 years later.
Sharon Christensen suggested to Carrie Oliver that Oliver volunteer for Tri-Lakes Cares. Fortunately for the community, Oliver took her suggestion.
Oliver joined Tri-Lakes Cares as a volunteer in 1995 when Tri-Lakes Cares operated from the basement the administration building for District 38. Today, Oliver is the assistance programs manager, a part-time salaried position. She is the coordinator of all food drives for Tri-Lakes Cares.
These are hard times for many families in the Tri-Lakes area that are unable to provide the basic necessities for the family such as food. What makes it even harder for many is that asking for assistance is a new experience.
Tri-Lakes Cares is a community resource center that meets the emergency food needs of the community. Volunteers and paid personnel work together to meet those needs.
Oliver’s many duties include overseeing the Emergency Food Pantry where she manages approximately 100 volunteers in making sure food is available when needed.
The Emergency Food Pantry serves a dual purpose.
“It not only feeds the people, but it helps preserve their limited income to meet other financial obligations in lieu of buying food,” Oliver said.
Another drive is the Harvest of Love. This is in conjunction with District 38. The students bring enough food during the drive to help maintain food requirements for a year.
The Buy it Forward is another program administered in conjunction with King Soopers. In the first week of each month, one can pick up a small bag clearly marked as part of the Buy it Forward program. If filled it would contain four or five items.
While checking out, the contents of the bag are scanned along with the shopper’s other grocery items. The bag stays at the store, and the items are shipped to Tri-Lakes Cares.
The Federal Commodity Subsidy is surplus USDA food distributed by Care and Share. To qualify for the program, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen and fall within income guidelines.
Oliver also coordinates the Senior Supplement program. People older than 65 years on a fixed income qualify.
“They can ask for favorite food items, like candy, and diet restriction food like gluten free, and low salt items,” Oliver said.
One holiday program includes a box of food at Thanksgiving and another at Christmas, along with gift certificates from Safeway for perishable items such as milk, eggs and butter. The boxes include a turkey at Thanksgiving and a ham at Christmas.
“We gave out 300 boxes last year, and we are currently signing in now for this year,” Oliver said.
Tri-Lakes Cares is expanding into a community resource center offering an array of needed services.
It has a children’s gift program and a school supply program, which helped 270 children with their school supplies. District 38 provides the list
It also administers the Energy Outreach Program, with money received from the state.
The services and programs are always expanding. New programs include a medical clinic operated by a retired U.S. Air Force doctor and a Penrose Hap Nurse. There is a volunteer psychiatrist by appointment only.
It is also a GED testing site. The Pikes Peak Work Force Center is upstairs and operates from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays.
If Tri-Lakes Cares is unable to assist a person’s need, it has the knowledge to refer the person to other organizations.
Hangers is a thrift shop that benefits Tri-Lakes Cares and that operates from a separate location at 341 Front St.
Oliver understands the role of agencies helping people in need. Her father was a 30-year career Air Force officer. The military is always helping others in one way or another. She married an enlisted man who became an Air Force officer. She was active in the Air Force Officers Wives Club in myriad projects.
“We’re big Air Force supporters, we go to everything, and are members of Friends of Air Force Basketball,” Oliver said. “We’ve sponsored eight Air Force cadets.”
She even finds time for her two daughters, Tami and Heather, and her two grandchildren, Ashley and Tyler.
Tri-Lakes Cares is at 235 Jefferson St. in Monument. You can reach TLC by phone 719-481-4864 or www.tri-lakescares.org. Hours are noon to 3:00 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays.
Tri-Lakes Cares
Address: 235 Jefferson St., Monument
Phone: 719-481-4864
Web: www.tri-lakescares.org.
Hours: noon to 3 p.m. or 6-8 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays
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