Food Banks Listed for El Paso County, Colorado
We found 4 food banks listed for El Paso County, Colorado. Call before you go to confirm hours and what to bring. You can also see food pantries in El Paso County, Colorado.
Fresh Harvest Food Bank
Phone: (720) 381-6169
Address: 8250 Park Meadows Dr Ste 130, Lone Tree, CO 80124. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
The mission of Fresh Harvest Food Bank, formerly The Douglas County Panther Pantry, is to provide immediate hunger relief, support and education to families in Douglas County and surrounding areas. As a community food share organization, Fresh Harvest Food Bank provides support directly to local families as well as to other local non-profit agencies.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (720) 381-6169 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Lone Tree
Help Residents of Counties:
- Arapahoe
- Broomfield
- Boulder
- Adams
- Douglas
- Denver
- El Paso
DE Task Force Food Bank
Phone: (303) 688-6129
Address: 1638 Park St, Castle Rock, CO 80109. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Clients of the Food Bank may request food once every 30 days. The Food Bank provides each client with five to seven days worth of food, or approximately 100 lbs. of food, depending on Food Bank stock. We provide three meals per day (plus snacks!) for each family member. In 2013, the Task Force supplied over 463,000 lbs. of food to our clients! We also are often able to provide children’s diapers, sanitary supplies for women and seniors and personal hygiene kits. In 2013 we provided $761,491 in these services to our clients. We often have pet food, laundry and other cleaning supplies. Additionally, each month we conduct two off-site Food Banks at low-income senior housing units. Historically we’ve provided approximately $75,000 of food/hygiene assistance per year to our senior citizens.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (303) 688-6129 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Castle Rock
Help Residents of Counties:
- Arapahoe
- Adams
- Douglas
- Denver
- El Paso
The Parker Task Force / Food Bank
Phone: (303) 840-3912
Address: 20118 E Mainstreet Unit D, Parker, CO 80138. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
The Parker Task Force is a non-profit organization operated by dedicated volunteers. The Parker Task Force is dedicated to providing individuals and families in our community with food, limited financial assistance and other support services to help them become self-sufficient. These services will be delivered with compassion, dignity and respect by our 100% volunteer staff. PTF has a food bank among the services that it provides. All non-perishable food is donated through local food drives by churches, schools, businesses, social organizations, grocery stores, and by donations from individuals within the community. PTF purchases perishable food from financial donations. In addition, PTF runs a monthly food drive generally on the 3rd Saturday of the month. This monthly food drive has been successfully run every month for nine (9) consecutive years. 80% of the food in our food bank comes from these food drives.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (303) 840-3912 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Parker
Help Residents of Counties:
- Arapahoe
- Adams
- Douglas
- Denver
- El Paso
CARE AND SHARE FOOD BANK
Phone: (719) 528-1247
Address: 2605 Preamble Pt, Colorado Springs, CO 80915. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
In 1989 Care and Share became a member of the America's Second Harvest National Food Bank Network (now called Feeding America) and began to focus on food distribution. This association also expanded the service area from two counties to the southern 31 counties of Colorado. Joining Feeding America allowed Care and Share access to a wider variety of products, donated by national food distributors and wholesalers. This has become the major source of food for Care and Share. In addition to providing food resources, Feeding America serves as a resource for professional development and networking opportunities, as well as coordinating efforts for product donations and distribution in disaster situations.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (719) 528-1247 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Colorado Springs
Help Residents of Counties:
- Douglas
- El Paso
Church Food Banks in El Paso County, Colorado
Some churches in and around El Paso County, Colorado run food banks or serve free meals.
Many welcome anyone who needs a meal. Some also offer services such as showers, laundry, mail, or I.D. assistance, so call ahead to confirm what is available.
We don't have a church food bank listed for El Paso County, Colorado right now. Ask local churches directly, or call 211.
Food prices remain high. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 136.0 points in September 2026, up 5.8% from a year earlier.
A 36% price increase over the 2014-2016 base period shows that hunger is a public health issue of critical importance.
The most vulnerable demographic of society is taking the brunt of this economic pressure. Now more than ever, low-income families must rely on Colorado Free Clinics, Colorado Food Stamps, and food banks.
This guide will list helpful information about food banks in El Paso County, Colorado and organizations that can help curb hunger, how you can use their services and where to find them.
What is a Food Bank?
Food banks are non-profit charitable organizations that assist financially vulnerable populations by distributing food. Their main objective is to help low-income individuals and families by providing food.
They will work through other 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations like food pantries and soup kitchens. Sometimes they distribute the food themselves via mobile pantry.
A food bank in El Paso County, Colorado serves as a single collection and distribution point for food donations. They operate much like a for-profit food distributor, but they do not use retailers. Instead, they may use church food banks, charities, and other non-profit food pantries to provide food to the people to fight hunger.
How the Food Bank Works?
- 1. Food is donated to a food bank.
- 2. It is stored in a large climate-controlled warehouse.
- 3. A food bank in El Paso County, Colorado distributes food to various non-profits for distribution.
- 4. Food reaches people who are in need.
Who can use Food Banks?
Many food banks and food pantries in El Paso County, Colorado are locally run, with others managed at the state or federal level. Qualification to receive nutrition assistance from food programs depends on the type.
There are different qualifying requirements, and some food banks have none. Some let you come during their days and times of operation, and they will help if they are able.
Here are some tips before you go:
- It is highly advisable to call ahead before you arrive!
- Ask about any eligibility or documentation requirements they may have.
- If required, bring all required documents when you use their services.
Second Harvest Food Bank
Many communities across the United States are served by food banks that use the Second Harvest name.
These food banks help families facing hard choices between food, housing, medicine, and other necessities. We don't have a food bank with the Second Harvest name listed for El Paso County, Colorado right now.
Feeding America
John van Hengel, the founder of St. Mary's Food Bank, went on to create a national organization for food banks. The Feeding America organization is a leader in the nation's domestic hunger-relief efforts.
High food costs continue to put pressure on America's most vulnerable citizens. Feeding America reports that its network provides 5.9 billion meals a year.
The Feeding America network has grown through donations and other charitable efforts to be able to deliver much-needed food via food rescue, hunger relief programs, and disaster response.
A listing on this page doesn't mean an organization is part of the Feeding America network. To find a member food bank, use Feeding America's finder.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal program that helps obtain badly needed food for low-income people and families. SNAP is also known as Food Stamp.
Nationally, SNAP served approximately 42 million Americans per month in fiscal year 2025. To ask about SNAP benefits in El Paso County, Colorado, contact your state SNAP office. It is the most extensive nutrition program administered by Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and is a vital component of the social safety net for low-income Americans.
In fiscal year 2025, about 12.3% of the U.S. population received SNAP benefits in an average month.
The program had used paper "stamps" or coupons in the past – worth $1 (brown), $5 (blue), and $10 (green). These were bound into small booklets of various denominations, to be torn out individually and used in single-use exchanges.
Free Food Programs Summary
| Acronym | Name | For Moms & Kids | For Seniors | For Food Bank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SNAP | Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program | Yes | Yes | No |
| TEFAP | The Emergency Food Assistance Program | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CSFP | The Commodity Supplemental Food Program | No | Yes | Yes |
| CACFP | The Child and Adult Care Food Program | Yes | Yes | No |
| NSLP | The National School Lunch Program | Yes | No | No |
| SBP | The School Breakfast Program | Yes | No | No |
| SFSP | The Summer Food Service Program | Yes | No | No |
| WIC | Women, Infants, and Children | Yes | No | No |
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
1. What is the difference between a food bank and a food pantry?
Independent community food pantries are self-governing and usually distribute food to their clients on a once-a-month basis. A food bank is the storehouse for millions of pounds of food and other products that go out to the community. A food pantry functions as the arms that reach out to that community directly.
2. What kind of food is at a food bank?
El Paso County food banks often have items like:
- Peanut butter
- Canned soup
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Pasta
- Canned beans
- Canned stew
- Canned fish
3. How do you qualify for El Paso County food bank assistance?
Requirements vary, and some food banks and pantries ask for no paperwork at all. Call ahead. Some may ask you to bring:
- A state-issued ID
- Social Security numbers of household members
- A bill or other mail that shows your address
- Proof of income, such as a bank statement