Like many retired people, Lucille Rudolph relies on her monthly Social Security checks to pay her bills and other expenses.

She owns her Colorado Springs house and her car, but $884 a month in Social Security only goes so far — especially when health insurance doesn’t cover all her medications.

Rudolph considers herself adept at watching how much she spends. But staying within her small budget each month is a challenge.

“If I had to buy everything I needed, I couldn’t do it,” said Rudolph, 73.

Fortunately, Rudolph learned about the Care and Share Food Bank. Based in Colorado Springs, it supplies food to many southern Colorado locations that serve impoverished children, the working poor, low-income seniors, the sick, the disabled and the homeless. Care and Share is one of 15 area charities receiving grants from The Gazette-El Pomar Empty Stocking Fund.

Rudolph picks up food once a month at Silver Key Senior Services on Bott Avenue and twice a month at Crossfire Ministries on East La Salle Street, both in Colorado Springs. Her favorite foods are cheeses, fruits and vegetables.

She enjoys how pleasant the volunteers are at both locations. She says they even carry her groceries to her car.

“You couldn’t ask for more from these people,” Rudolph said.

Rudolph understands the importance of the Care and Share program.

“There would be a whole lot of hungry people if they didn’t have these programs available,” Rudolph said.

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