Shane Crews moved to the Pikes Peak region from California after seeing its beauty and meeting a few friendly people during a five-hour layover.

The same Colorado Springs friendliness that drew Crews to the area last year helped him recently get through a a tight financial spot.

Crews was working for a local market research firm when he was laid off this summer. In the three months he was unemployed, he burned through his savings. Though he finally found work as a supervisor at a Taco Bell and doing an occasional Jeep repair, the two-week delay for his first paycheck came right when November rent was due and Crews came up short.

A neighbor’s friend told him to check into Westside Cares, a non-profit for residents of El Paso County’s west side in need of emergency financial assistance for rent, utilities, groceries and medicine, among other things. It is one of 15 area charities receiving grants from The Gazette-El Pomar Empty Stocking Fund.

Waiting in line, Crews was surprised to see that nearly everyone else there looking for help was a lot like him: trying everything to stay afloat but still needing help.

Westside Cares was “really going after more of the people who were actually trying, who were giving it everything they could but were coming up short,” Crews said.

He walked out with $300 for rent, just the boost he needed to get back into the flow of standing on his own two feet.

“Everyone is very joyous there and very friendly. They just made you feel like someone cared when you felt absolutely helpless,” Crews said.

U.S. Olympic Committee chief executive officer Scott Blackmun will open his ears to financial discussions Thursday, when the USOC board meets in Redwood City, Calif. The USOC will discuss its strategic plan, budget and list of grants for next year, as well as Olympic Training Center capital projects and a revenue plan for 2013 through 2016. Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

David Zalubowski