DENVER — The volunteer who runs the Thrive Food Bank in Federal Heights said in her 10 years of service there, she has never seen a need for food quite like there is now.
Angie Lopez's faith — "If it wasn't for God, I couldn't do this," she said — has proven more important than ever over the past six months as the coronavirus changed life as we know it.
"He gives me the strength to do this, provides everything that's here," she said.
She said the food bank has been very busy.
It's a place for the hungry and hopeless to come and, for a moment, fill up.
Lopez said the food bank went from serving 50 families to helping 80.
"I keep adding more people randomly every week," she said.
Fellow volunteer Tammy Sharron said that takes a lot of heavy lifting.
"She goes and picks up all of this stuff, all the bread, all of that and she puts it in a box truck, half of the time by herself, other times, she has help," Sharron said. "But she’ll bring it here, bring it inside. She goes and gets almost all of the food. She just is amazing."
Lopez will tell you that this is her calling — to help as many of the suffering as she can.
Perhaps it's because her own life path wasn't too far off from the people who come in.
"I was a single mom, I had two kids to feed and I barely had any food to feed them," she said. "It was either pay the bills, pay the rent and whatever I had leftover, I would buy food for my kids."
Because of Lopez's faith and dedication, hundreds of our most vulnerable community members will have a place to go and food to eat. It's all thanks to a woman who sees her reflection in the eyes of the people she serves.
"Day in and day out, she’s just so dedicated. And she’s one of the most amazing people I’ve ever known in my life. She just inspires me," Sharron said.
The Thrive Food Bank is open every Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2720 W. 92nd Ave. in Federal Heights.
Molly Hendrickson anchors Denver7 in the mornings from 4:30-7 a.m. She also features a different 7Everyday Hero each week on Denver7. Follow Molly on Facebook here and Twitter here. To nominate a hero in your life, click here.
