Arapahoe County, CO – A new food pantry has opened inside the Arapahoe County Jail, aiming to help inmates who are released with little more than the clothes on their backs.
According to the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, the pantry was established in memory of 24-year-old Giselle Ridenour, who died from an overdose earlier this year. Her mother, Lisa Ridenour, approached Sheriff Tyler Brown with the idea of creating “Gelli’s Fridge,” a 24/7 dry food cabinet that provides free snacks and nonperishable items to those leaving the detention center.
Many individuals reentering the community after incarceration face significant challenges, including lack of money, housing, and food. The pantry, located in the jail’s main lobby, is intended to help them take their first steps toward stability and dignity.
“I don’t want my daughter’s death to be for nothing. I want her death to save other lives,” Ridenour said in a statement shared by the sheriff’s office.
The initiative, described by the department as “a first step with dignity,” is open to any inmate upon release.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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