If you live on the West Side of Colorado Springs and can’t afford  food or clothing, Westside Cares wants to help. Located at 1930 W. Colorado Ave., the program is sponsored by 22 local churches and provides, among other things,  food.  A three-day supply of food may be requested up to six times a year. The pantry is open at various locations from 1 to 3 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. Rent assistance is available under specific circumstances, too. They’ll also provide help paying for utilities, offer bus tokens, and supply clothing vouchers that can be redeemed at  local Goodwill stores. Mecidal, dental and eye care assistance also is available.  They sponsor a school immunization clinic in the spring and back-to-school supplies in the fall. To find out more, and to see if you qualify for these FREE services, contact Westside Cares at 389-0759. They serve the area north of Fort Carson, south of the Air Force Academy, west of Interstate 25 and east of the Teller County line.

Times are tough, especially for older workers. If you are age 50 or older and need to find a job, AARP can help. They offer FREE Work Search Assistance, including possible training and referrals to job openings in the area. For details, call them at 635-3579.

So get your resume ready and give them a call.