Angel Baskets warns Telluride pantry demand has surged; asks county to preserve replacement space

Peter Kenworthy, a longtime Angel Baskets volunteer and presenter, told San Miguel County commissioners on Feb. 11 that the nonprofit’s work has outgrown its current arrangements and that the group needs the county’s help to secure a future location. Kenworthy said Angel Baskets now serves more than 200 families — roughly 600 people — and that demand “spiked to two to three times our typical traffic” on distribution days during December and January. He urged the board to involve the organization in planning for redevelopment of the Fruin Building where the pantry currently operates.

Dominique, identified in the presentation as Angel Baskets’ new board president, described the pantry’s role during recent SNAP threats and said families asked for formula and diapers in addition to groceries. “When SNAP was being threatened, we had a lot of families asking for formula and diapers,” she said, underscoring the pantry’s role in meeting basic needs beyond staples.

Douglas Tooley, a longtime pantry client speaking during public comment, urged commissioners to move quickly: “I’d like to strongly testify in support of the need not just for a new space but an expanded space. The need is strong enough that that should be done as quickly as possible,” he said.

County staff said preliminary talks with the town about remodeling the Fruin Building have included the necessity of preserving a pantry space in Telluride — not necessarily the exact address, but a location with similar access and loading features — and that the county will not proceed without that assurance. “We will not proceed without that assurance,” a county official said during the meeting.

Kenworthy also noted new partnerships and resources: Angel Baskets receives subsidized food and some grants from the Food Bank of the Rockies, and it provides $2,000 per month to support the Norwood food pantry’s overhead. Commissioners asked for specific measurements and operational data; staff and presenters agreed to follow up with square‑footage numbers, client demographics, and other clarifying details requested by the board.

Next steps: Angel Baskets asked to be engaged in town and county design discussions for the Fruin Building redevelopment and to be part of any intergovernmental agreement that secures affordable, accessible pantry space. County staff said they would bring proposed locations back to the board for review when the town provides them.