NGVC Partners With Area Businesses to Fight Hunger in SOCO

This holiday season, Natural Grocers, Colorado Springs Toyota Dealers, and iHeart Radio teamed up to fight hunger in Southern Colorado with the Fill-The-Truck Food Drive. From November 11^th through December 13^th, residents were able to donate non-perishable food items to benefit Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado. 

Throughout the campaign, a brightly decorated Toyota Tundra traveled between the Monument and Colorado Springs Natural Grocers locations, serving as a mobile donation hub for food contributions. Community members were able to drop donations directly into the Tundra to hand to onsite Toyota team members or utilize collections bins at the three participating location; Colorado Springs – North Academy, Colorado Springs – South Nevada Avenue, Monument. 

“We were thrilled when iHeart Radio reached out to see if we wanted to support this year’s Fill-The-Truck Food Drive presented by Toyota Dealers of Colorado Springs. As a Colorado-based, family-operated natural and organic grocery retailer, we have been serving communities with healthy and nutritious products since 1955. Each of our stores partner with a local food bank for regular monthly donations through our ‘Bring Your Own Bag’ Program and food rescue efforts. It just so happens that Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado is already an established partner of ours. The Fill-The-Truck Food Drive is a meaningful, easy way for residents to ensure their neighbors have access to food during the holidays. Every donation, big or small, contributes to a shared goal of fighting hunger in Southern Colorado” said NGVC VP of Marketing, Raquel Isely. 

Nate Springer, President and CEO of Care and Share Food Bank, highlighted the significance of this effort. “The holidays are a time when we all come together. Food unites us in so many ways, and we’re proud to be part of helping neighbors, friends, and families create special memories. Every single person in our community can make a difference, and we hope everyone joins us in this effort,” he said.

Care and Share Food Bank offers several ways for the community to stay involved beyond the holiday season: 

1. Financial Donations: Enable the purchase of food in bulk through partnerships like Feeding America. Donations can be made at www.careandshare.org, which also provides “Donate” and “Find Food” options. 

1. Volunteer Time: Over 6,000 volunteers help distribute more than 21 million meals annually at distribution centers in Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and Alamosa. 

1. Host a Food Drive: Organize a collection of shelf-stable items in your community, workplace, or church. Donations can be delivered to any Care and Share distribution center. 

Together, these efforts ensure that families in Southern Colorado have the resources they need to celebrate the season with hope and unity.