In the Community

The Girl Scout Cookie Drive is in full swing and two members of Troop 3360, Breanna Maxcy, left, and Danae Park, were selling boxes of cookies recently at the Fountain Safeway. Watch for local girl scouts selling their goodies at local stores. Submitted photo

Are you looking for a way to help those less fortunate in El Paso County? Consider donating your extra blankets to help someone in need. Several Emergency Medical Services agencies have partnered to make a new blanket drive a success by serving as drop-off locations for the blankets. Bring any new or clean gently used blanket to the following locations between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. until February 29.

* City of Fountain Fire Dept., all fire stations

*American Medical Response Operational Office, 2370 N. Powers Blvd.

* Colo. Springs Fire Dept., all fire stations

* Falcon Fire Department, all fire stations

The majority of blankets donated will go to The Salvation Army RJ Montgomery Center and Soup Run feeding program. Each response agency will keep a few to use on emergency calls.

Are you looking for a way to help those less fortunate in El Paso County? Consider donating your extra blankets to help someone in need. Several Emergency Medical Services agencies have partnered to make a new blanket drive a success by serving as drop-off locations for the blankets. Bring any new or clean gently used blanket to the following locations between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. until February 29.

* City of Fountain Fire Dept., all fire stations

*American Medical Response Operational Office, 2370 N. Powers Blvd.

* Colo. Springs Fire Dept., all fire stations

* Falcon Fire Department, all fire stations

The majority of blankets donated will go to The Salvation Army RJ Montgomery Center and Soup Run feeding program. Each response agency will keep a few to use on emergency calls.

SUBMITTED BY MARY HUMPHRIES

Many of you are proud to be long-time residents of the Fountain Valley.  But are you aware that the Walt Fortman Center located at 501 E. Iowa in Fountain has been serving the community for 49 years?
When persons in the Fountain Valley area first apply to Walt Fortman for assistance, it is determined what their basic and most urgent needs are.  If it’s food, they may be referred to Fountain Valley C.A.R.E.S. , an agency that includes four food pantries.  If their income indicates a recurring need for food, they will probably be issued a Commodity Card which entitles them to government-issued commodities each month for a year.  These are available at several centers in El Paso County, but the ones at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church (2nd & 4th Thursdays) and at Walt Fortman (Tuesdays) are in our area. 
If the client’s needs involve payment of water bills, they are also usually referred to C.A.R.E.S. (as was highlighted in November’s article.)  Walt Fortman has access to other agencies and will refer clients to the best place to receive assistance.
If the need is for clothes, clients are referred to the Clothing Pantries within C.A.R.E.S.  An adult clothes closet is located at Faith Lutheran Church in Security and is open on Wednesdays, with no appointment needed.   A Children’s’ Closet is located the First United Methodist Church of Fountain and an appointment for help is made through Walt Fortman.
Walt Fortman also provides Family Stabilization Services which include emergency needs such as rent, utilities, food, medical prescriptions, housing rehabilitation, transportation and budget counseling.   All of these services are geared to help a household progress to permanent self-sufficiency. 
Other community centers in the Pikes Peak area which provide some of the same services are Billie Spielman at 1616 W. Bijou, Norvell Simpson at 925 S. Institute, both in Colorado Springs, and Eastern El Paso Center at Calhan.  The agencies are connected by computer and are able to determine that clients cannot receive duplicate services.
If you contributed to the EMPTY STOCKING FUND at Christmas, a portion went to the Community Action Agencies.  Other funds come from grants, FEMA, United Way, El Pomar, and other private foundations. 
Volunteers are welcome to help with the services provided by the Walt Fortman Center.  Call 382-8515 for more information or watch this newspaper to find special events or programs where you can help. 
  More on Fountain Valley C.A.R.E.S. next month.