The open house last week at Community Partnership Family Resource Center was a cause for celebration of the organization’s response during the federal government shutdown in October.

With the shutdown, more than 3,000 Teller County residents lost food stamps through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The room was packed with friends, board members and officials, some who offered a characterization of those 3,000 recipients.

“Our clients are tough, said Kim Mauthe, executive director of the county’s Department of Human Services. “They didn’t complain.”

The word “tough” fits the profile.

“Our clients are self-reliant,” said Kathy Lowry, executive director of Teller Senior Coalition.

Mauthe and Lowry’s words set the tone for the theme behind the response that involved the community, including children as well as 4-H groups.

“We were taking care of ourselves while other counties were trying to figure out how to do it,” said Jodi Mijares, executive director of CP (Community Partnership).

The response was heartwarming, said Woodland Park Mayor Kellie Case.

“We never forget our own,” she added.

Hundreds of residents took part in filling empty cupboards while providing emotional support to anyone who asked. Led by commissioners Bob Campbell, Erik Stone and Dan Williams, the drive turned out to be a model.

 “And how did we do this (food drives) in Teller, a debt-free county?” Williams said. “We did it with dignity and pride.”

As an aside, Williams noted that the government is currently shut down again.

“And watch what is happening in Colorado with our $1.4 billion debt,” he said. “We are starting to lose grants. Kids are struggling and it’s already a difficult time.”

Mijares and her team at CP worked with the Aspen Mine Center, Little Chapel Food Pantry and Community Cupboard to distribute food and necessities –and occasionally yell for help – to the SNAP beneficiaries.

Throughout nearly two months, the drive included Walmart and City Market for allowing officials, agencies, churches, fire departments and the sheriff’s office, a project coordinated by Lt. Renee Bunting, to collect donations at their stores.

Sally Riley, former city planner and co-founder of CP in 1992, credited the collaboration for the successful food drive.

“Really, it’s the leadership that made this work, leaders who care and have integrity,” Riley said.

Withs its variety of programs, Mijares reminded the group that her organization serves one in every 15 Teller County residents.