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Describe the project objectives:
La Puente Home, Inc. provides numerous supports for families and individuals experiencing poverty and mental health needs in the Alamosa and San Luis Valley region of rural southern Colorado. La Puente is in the process of collaboratively developing a model of food bank that operates like a grocery store to help families in poverty to maintain their dignity while in the process of regaining their independence. It currently operates of network of 15 food pantries across 8,000 square miles that provides nutritious options to those in poverty.
Members of the Greeley Centennial World Community Service committee will provide service and some supplies in the implementation of La Puente's project. This project will be implemented in stages over the course of the next year. These stages include initial building use/plan approval from the City of Alamosa, clearing of debris from an existing building, and the minor rehabilitation of the building.
The purpose of our club's support is to provide for the immediate needs of La Puente, including support for its next initiative, the food bank / grocery store. This will provide for the rehabilitation needs of the La Puente food bank / grocery with both boots on the ground funds for cleaning supplies and some construction materials. This may include services such as cleaning and painting, and improvements to the building such as lighting and ADA accessibility. In the event that this next initiative is not operational during the grant cycle, the funds will be used to support the La Puente Food Bank Network of the San Luis Valley.
In addition to providing service, another purpose of our service visit is also to collaborate and build better relationships with members of the Alamosa Rotary Club, City of Alamosa, and La Puente. Through this collaboration, we will continue to leverage our collective resources for future community projects in service to those living in poverty.
Describe the benefit to the community and/or improve lives:
This project will primarily support the area of focus of Rotary International of Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention. Addressing poverty through a culture of dignity will help minimize conflict within the communities of the San Luis Valley and Alamosa, Colorado. Providing essential food and resources for families in poverty.
Sustainability:
La Puente Home provides additional and on-going resources for this project through its partnership with AmeriCorps and multiple service and philanthropic organizations throughout the state. Additional community members have a vested interest in reducing poverty and food scarcity in the San Luis Valley. The materials and labor will all be locally sourced, and service organizations such as ours are partnering with La Puente to help fulfill the goals of this project.
Active Rotarian Involvement:
The Greeley Centennial Rotary Club has been active in serving La Puente through various projects over the past few years. Our Rotarians have made multiple trips to Alamosa to understand the significant need to address poverty in the region and to provide service. Specifically, we have been involved with the development of the St. Benedict's homeless campground project and have helped with various other projects in support of La Puente. Further involvement in this project is yet to be determined during a future service trip to Alamosa in the 2022-2023 club year.
Total Project Budget: $1,050.00
$1,050 from the Greeley Centennial Rotary and the 5440 District, consisting of $350 club dollars with matching funds of $700 from our district.
Publicity Plan:
Greeley Centennial Rotary will write an article as the project progresses updating both the club membership and District 5440. We will travel to the site in 2022-2023 so as to have photos of project construction and service. We will submit the article to the local newspaper and or La Puente publication, The Voice of La Puente.
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