AURORA, Colo — A food pantry in Aurora, Food Connect operates as a free grocery store to help create a sense of normalcy and independence for the people it serves.
“People who come here have homes. A lot of them own their homes. And they’re mostly working. They’re not unemployed. It’s just people that are having a hard time and need that extra something to pay the bills every month.” At Food Connect Colorado, guests are not called “recipients” or “needy” by Watts or her volunteers. They are called shoppers. The shoppers who strolled through for opening day Thursday were just as relieved—or more—to have the market operating once again.