Eastern Plains Community Pantry Board

EPCP History

The Eastern Plains Community Pantry (EPCP) is located in a small town east of Colorado Springs called Calhan, Colorado. The restructuring of the Pikes Peak Community Action Agency eliminated food programs available in the area. Care & Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado provided USDA Commodities at the El Paso County Fairgrounds on a monthly basis but it was evident that food was needed more than one day a month. The Eastern Plains Community Pantry began with a vision of a group of people that saw a need to help out individuals and families in the Calhan and the surrounding area.

Calhan’s population is mainly rural. As of the census of 2000, there were 896 people, 347 households, and 246 families residing in the town. The median income for a household in the town was $35,735, and the median income for a family was $50,000. Males had a median income of $32,135 versus $24,659 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,266. About 3.7% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over. (Check out more here)

February 2013, ECPC approved the following mission statement:

EPCP will encourage, support, and enhance the quality of life of community members by assisting with food distribution, living necessities, and other resources for everyone with respect, dignity, and without judgment or prejudice.

On a monthly basis EPCP  helps over 570 individuals (190 families, 375 adults, and 210 children) with the following programs:

• Senior Boxes
• Commodities
• Care & Share Mobile Food Pantry every third Friday a month
• Emergency Food
• Clothing/Household goods

Eastern Plains Community Pantry received the 501(c)3 non-profit status in April of 2013.