(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Widefield School District 3 (WSD3) held a grand opening on Monday, Sept. 9 for a new free grocery store specifically to help local families in need.

WSD3 partnered with Goodr Grocery Store to provide a free grocery store stocked with nutritious foods to support students and their families. Sponsored by Colorado Community Health Alliance (CCHA), the WSD3 Goodr Grocery Store will help the district combat hunger by providing 200 families a month with regular access to nutritious food. 

Goodr is a sustainable waste management and hunger relief organization that uses technology and logistics to reduce food waste and hunger. WSD3 said the district used specific criteria to help identify which families need this access the most.

“As a mom of two boys, I know that the school district often sees changes in either my sons or other families first,” said Colleen Daywalt, Vice President of CCHA. “And so we’ve really leaned on them to be the conduit, if you will, to the grocery store.”

The store is now officially open, and is located right next to the Security Public Library, at 715 Aspen Drive. The district said it would use criteria to identify families each month that will have access to the grocery store, ensuring that the resources reach those who need them most throughout the school year.