COMMERCE CITY — Loretta Garcia has spent the past 32 years providing food to residents in dire need. That all is set to change July 3.
Garcia’s F.I.S.H. of Commerce City is being forced out of its space in the Honnen Building, the home of Adams County’s recently cut Food Distribution Program. The Adams County Board of Commissioners voted Monday to approve a lease for Food Bank of the Rockies to use the space.
Garcia, who said she was initially told in January that the two organizations could share the space, is concerned the level of service will decline with the change.
“They don’t do what we do,” Garcia said of Food Bank of the Rockies. “We’re an emergency food bank. We provide fruits, vegetables, pasta sauce … whatever (Food Bank of the Rockies) is given, they put out there.”
Janie Gianotsos, a spokeswoman for Food Bank of the Rockies, said the organization projects to serve about 26,000 people this year. The Food Bank of the Rockies has operated in the county’s former food distribution space since January.
“Hopefully people won’t see much change,” Gianotsos said.
F.I.S.H. of Commerce City occupies a 12-by-16-foot space in the building, just enough for two storage pallets. From that space, Garcia served more than 3,000 people with dietary staples including eggs, rice and sugar.
“We need someone to have compassion for these people in need,” Garcia said. “These are people who have been laid off, and they need some help.”
The people served by F.I.S.H. in the past relied on a network of referrals from local schools, churches and food stamp offices. Garcia has turned to them in search of a new location but has been unsuccessful so far as most of the facilities are inconvenient for carrying large amounts of food up and down stairs.
“Some of the churches, I know they have space,” Garcia said. “But most are in basements. It’s a shame that we have to move all this stuff.”
But Garcia says she’s going to keep serving the community until she’s forced to leave the space. F.I.S.H. of Commerce City is open 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday through Friday. Anyone who wants to donate to F.I.S.H. can contact Garcia at 303-717-0116.
Contact Christopher Harrop via email at charrop@metrowestnewspapers.com.