about us

The Good Samaritan Center is a food pantry and emerging community food center in Cortez, CO. We provide food assistance to anyone who needs it through market-style shopping for supplementary groceries and opportunities to grow food for personal use. Households can shop for groceries every 2 weeks if needed.

 

goals for 2024

  • Increase the quantity & variety of healthy options, culturally important and locally-produced food we distribute.

  • Deepen our community partnerships.

  • Continue to develop avenues for member participation, decision-making and leadership.

  • Commit to practices and policies that move us toward food sovereignty.

  • Work with members and partners to continue programs that educate, empower and nourish us as a community.

 

We deeply thank everyone who takes action on behalf of the pantry. We are held by this community and we hope our efforts always expand the love and blessings we receive.

Some of our volunteers, staff and board members with an original painting by local artist, Caro. “We are here to help!”

 

OUR MISSION

The Good Samaritan Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that offers food assistance to anyone who needs it. It is our mission to ensure we all have equitable access to healthy food and supportive connections while working together to build a more just food system.

operations

The pantry operates out of a small area of the “big pink warehouse.” We have a full-time executive director and a part-time operations manager. We also work with a variety of skilled people on a contract basis for projects, consulting and special events.

Our operations heavily depend on a crew of about 30 active volunteers who serve 2-3 hours every week.

 

board of directors

Our current board of directors consists of four members. Meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 5:30 pm at the pantry.

Ernie Maness, President

Cecilia Berto, Vice-President

Jeff Roedell, Treasurer

Michael Ferland, Secretary

 

staff

Kirbi Foster, Executive Director director@goodsamscortez.org

Kirbi joined the Good Samaritan Center as executive director in March 2020. Her priorities at the pantry include member leadership and collective decision-making; choice and autonomy; nutritious and culturally important food; active partnerships with donors, funders and volunteers; and leveraging the pantry’s position in the food system to create positive change.

Kirbi also leads the children’s garden program at Cortez Community Gardens and is the coordinator for the new 3rd Street Neighborhood Garden on the southside of Cortez. She is passionate about her community and working together to create just and healthy outcomes for everyone. She moved to Cortez in 2016 and loves being a mom, growing food, taking portraits of vegetables, trying to be funny, and composting.

Thaddus (T.) Wilkerson, Volunteer Manager operations@goodsamscortez.org

 
 

WHERE DOES OUR FOOD COME FROM?

  • Donations & Food Drives

  • Community Gardens

  • Local food assistance organizations

  • Local & regional producers

  • Care and Share Food Bank

  • Montezuma School to Farm Project

  • CSU Extension Grow & Give

  • Safeway Cortez

  • Walmart Store #966

  • Maverik Adventure’s First Stop

WHO FUNDS THE GOOD SAMARITAN CENTER?

The majority of our funding comes from local individuals, churches and organizations.

We also receive grants for programs and the procurement of local food:

12 Hours of Mesa Verde

Colorado Food Pantry Assistance Grant

Nourish CO

Big Green DAO

Local Food Procurement Agreement (LFPA)

Rocky Mountain Health Plans Food Grant Program