Westside CARES food pantries partnering with Harrison School District 2

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Westside CARES has to move one of its food pantries because of rising rent costs. However, this move has opened up an opportunity for CARES to partner with Harrison School District 2.

In August, the nonprofit found out their rent would be more than $2,000, tripling the previous amount. They'll now be moving into Stratmoor Hills Elementary School.

Westside CARES says moving to Stratmoor Hills Elementary puts them in a more recognizable location.

District 2 says 68% of their families qualify for free and reduced lunch and they saw this as an opportunity to support those families.  

"A significant number of students at D2 schools qualify for free and reduced lunch and so we know that that is a food desert kind of area. We know that with inflation people are experiencing increasing hardships just keeping groceries on the shelves for their kids, and we’re hoping to partner with students and their parents, the school itself to bring food to the families that need it the most," said Kristy Milligan, the CEO of Westside CARES.

Milligan says they're seeing an astronomical increase in the need for their pantries. Usually, around this time of year, they see about two new families at each pantry each week, but now they're seeing as many as 14.

Westside CARES will be hosting a volunteer kick-off at Stratmoor Hills Elementary on Wednesday from 1 pm to 3 pm.

The pantry will officially open on October 5.