Nederland Food Pantry has been serving the community of Nederland since 1986. The idea for the food pantry began with several local women after observing that hunger was on the rise in their community. They started small, operating out of closets in the community rooms of their churches and working under the umbrella of the Nederland Community Presbyterian Church’s nonprofit status.
Since then, Nederland Food Pantry has only strengthened its operations and expanded its community impact—moving into a permanent home donated by the Town of Nederland in 2013, creating its own independent 501c3 in 2015, and receiving a van in 2016 to transport food more efficiently. Most recently, the Nederland Food Pantry moved into a new, three-building facility offering spaces for their food pantry, clothing closet, and administrative operations.
In the nearly 4 decades since the Nederland Food Pantry was started, the organization has steadily grown, creating a sustainable operation providing much-needed support to our mountain communities. In 2024 alone, Nederland Food Pantry provided 146,000 pounds of food, 6,000 pounds of clothing, $32,798 in financial assistance, and even grew 391 pounds of fresh produce for distribution from their own gardens.
“Nederland Food Pantry is all about supporting our amazing mountain communities,” says Betty Abel, Executive Director of Nederland Food Pantry. “Our mission is to empower a thriving Peak to Peak community through respectful and compassionate basic needs support. By providing resources to families across our nine rural mountain communities, we’re helping people stabilize their lives and pursue opportunities.”
Abel says support from donors and organizations like the community foundation have been instrumental in helping the organization expand their food distribution services and launch mobile pantry initiatives in 2025. “We’re able to reach more families in our diverse mountain communities, providing resources and ensuring everyone has access to the nutritious food and essential services they need to thrive.”
We’re proud to support Nederland Food Pantry and their work to relieve hunger, provide resources and information, and empower a thriving mountain community.
Nederland Food Pantry was awarded a Community Trust Grant in 2025.
