PENROSE -- A new food pantry is stocking up to help families in need thanks to a tenacious woman who is dedicated to honoring her mother's memory.
"There are so many people in need here in Penrose and I especially want to make sure the children get the help they need," said Amanda Suddoth, who founded My Neighbor's Cupboard at 409 S. Broadway. "There are 3,211 families living in Penrose and often they don't have the ability to drive to Florence or Canon City to visit the other pantries."
Suddoth started her adventure with helping families in need in 2013 when she founded Crosses for Losses shortly after the one-two punch of losing her mother and the Black Forest wildfire.
"My mom had just passed away and my town was burning down around me," she recalled with tears in her eyes. "I had a conversation with God and told him if he would leave one house for me to live in so I could raise my kids, I would do whatever he needed me to do."
Having a home to live in while many of her fellow community members were devastated gave Suddoth the impetus she needed to start the pantry in Black Forest. When she moved to Fremont County in 2015, she still had the drive to help victims of fires.
But by the time Christmas rolled around, she realized there were many more people who needed help.
"We started a food distribution program and ended up feeding 50 families in December. By February, we had 192 families come for help. We ran out of food, which was painful," Suddoth explained.
It became abundantly clear that Penrose needed its very own food pantry. Suddoth got a lot of help making My Neighbor's Cupboard a reality.
Kismet Ventures donated the building to house the pantry on Penrose's main street, where Suddoth pays the utilities. Home Depot donated shelving, paint and supplies to renovate the building.
Members of the community have donated food and volunteered their time. In the three-month waiting period that must pass before the pantry can partner with Caring and Sharing, Suddoth must rely on community donations to keep helping Penrose families.
Thanks to donations of refrigerators and freezers, she is able to accept meat and dairy items, even farm-fresh eggs and game meats, as well as frozen food. The pantry also stocks nonperishable canned foods, boxed meals and other staples.
One shelf unit is dedicated to pet food and supplies and another is stocked with toiletries. The pantry also has kitchen items such as crock pots, which can be purchased for a small donation to help fund the pantry.
Up next, Suddoth hopes to add a shower and a couple of beds for emergency shelter needs and eventually hopes to start a community garden in the fenced backyard area behind the pantry.
When she looks back on all that she has done to help others in need, Suddoth realizes, "I am my mother's daughter. She made me the caring person that I am."
Those who wish to donate can drop off items at the pantry, 409 S. Broadway; Steele Smokin' BBQ at 401 E. Main St. in Florence; Furniture Reimagined at 431 Main St. in Canon City; and the Road House at 404 E. Main St. in Silver Cliff.
Cash donations can be made on the Crosses for Losses Facebook page, where PayPal donations can be made, or checks can be mailed to 225 13th St., Penrose, CO 81240.
Pantry hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.
