This year, following 120 years of ministering to Manitou Springs residents, St. Andrews Episcopal Church closed. The historic structure in the center of town is an area landmark. While closing the sanctuary marked a pivotal end to the church’s storied history, the Manitou Springs Food Pantry located on the lower level remains open. Food Pantry hours are 1-2 p.m. Wednesdays. Additionally, a hot meal is available from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays. The Food Pantry address is 110 Canon Avenue, Parish Hall, located downstairs at the rear of the church.
Marianne Rommerdahl, food pantry coordinator, said she is ecstatic to have been granted permission by the Episcopal Dioceses of Colorado Springs to remain in the current location indefinitely. Nancy Hawley, church administrator, agreed.
“This church is the center of town,” Hawley said. “I am the last of the original group. I stay here to pay our utility bill, and to ensure we can offer community resources for the foreseeable future.”
Hawley said it became evident in the fall of 2024 that the church did not have enough pledges to maintain operations. “We sent out our requests for Thanksgiving collections and we just didn’t get very many back,” she said.
Around the time Hawley realized the church only had enough funds to operate through the end of the year, Reverend Matt Holcombe from St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Colorado Springs made his first visit to the Manitou location.
Monetary donations continue to be our greatest need. – Marianne Rommerdahl, food pantry coordinator
“At the end of the service, I remember Reverend Matt coming up to me asking, ‘Do you all need help?’ Boy, did we.” Hawley laughed.
She said his involvement with the Manitou Springs Food Pantry is a big reason why the pantry continues operating. Several weeks ago, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church of Colorado Springs raised enough money to buy shelving from a now-shuttered Walgreens location. They gave this shelving to Rommerdahl and her team of volunteers.
“We were just able to add the new shelves to our pantry,” Rommerdahl said. “The area now looks more like a grocery store.”
With tall metal shelves displaying canned food, bottled drinks, hand soap and other non-perishable items, she said the space feels more permanent.
Hawley said she cannot overstate the generosity of Reverend Matt and his parishioners. However, the Manitou Food Pantry is still in need of money to buy the perishable items families request.
“I buy things like shelf-stable milk, peanut butter and meat,” Rommerdahl explained. “We never seem to have enough meat.”
Care and Share Foodbank and Westside CARES provide the pantry with non-perishable items, although every week Rommerdahl must shop for other necessities.
“Monetary donations continue to be our greatest need,” she emphasized.
Rommerdahl is an Air Force veteran and mom. She said she has lived in Manitou for 10 years. “I plan to be here forever,” she said.
Under Rommerdahl’s guidance, the Manitou Springs Food Pantry serves as many as 100 people experiencing food insecurity each week. Rommerdahl volunteers her time and energy.
“A prosperous community means supporting everyone in the community,” she said.
To donate, please email [email protected]. Additionally, the Manitou Art Center (513 Manitou Ave.) accepts non-perishable food donations during First Friday Art Walks from 5-8 p.m. each month.
