The Pueblo County Blessing Boxes program, a volunteer-run initiative that fills small pantries with free food for those in need, continues to support the community as food insecurity remains a pressing issue in southern Colorado.
“Take what you need, bring what you can, above all be blessed!” reads the front of each box.
The program was started by Pueblo resident GT Davis, a retiree searching for a way to serve his community during the pandemic. The blessing box movement had spread throughout the country but had not yet reached Pueblo. After he built the first box, the movement spread all over social media and in 2022, there were 26 boxes across Pueblo.
As of August 2025, volunteers have stocked the boxes with 15,795 pounds of food.
According to Hunger Free Colorado, 11% of Coloradans “lack reliable access to nutritious food” as of 2024. Food insecurity rates dipped in 2021 thanks to emergency pandemic support, but have climbed again in recent years as those funds ended.
Pueblo County Blessing Boxes
What are Blessing Boxes?
Blessing Boxes are small volunteer-run food pantries across Pueblo County, providing free food to anyone in need, available 24/7.How much food has been donated?
As of August 2025, volunteers have stocked 15,795 pounds of food across 18 Blessing Box locations in Pueblo.Who started the program?
The program was founded by Pueblo resident GT Davis during the pandemic, inspired by the national Blessing Box movement.How big is food insecurity in Pueblo?
According to a 2024 Hunger Free America report, Pueblo County’s food insecurity rate was 16.5%, impacting nearly 28,000 people.Who coordinates the volunteers?
In 2024, RMSER, a Colorado nonprofit, began coordinating volunteers to keep the Blessing Boxes stocked and maintained.Where can I find a Blessing Box?
Box locations and updates are shared on the Pueblo County Blessing Boxes Facebook page at facebook.com/PuebloCountyBlessingBoxes.
A 2024 report from Hunger Free America found that Pueblo County’s food insecurity rate was 16.5%, leaving 27,870 people without reliable access to meals.
“Food insecurity occurs when a household cannot access enough food due to a lack of money and other essential resources,” according to Feeding America’s website.
To meet that need locally, the Blessing Boxes program stocks and maintains 18 boxes throughout Pueblo. Volunteers fill them once a week, and because the pantries are open 24/7, families can access food whenever they need it. The property owners who host each box are responsible for basic upkeep.
In 2024, Pueblo’s Rocky Mountain Service, Employment and Redevelopment/Jobs for Progress Inc. (RMSER) stepped in to help coordinate volunteer efforts. RMSER, a nonprofit founded in 1980, has long provided early childhood, workforce and community development programs across Colorado.