Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Long.
Hi Lisa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started as a volunteer at SECOR in 2015 after learning about their important work at church. After I toured the space, I was very moved by their student program, which gives underserved local students bags of non-perishables to take home for weekend nutrition. At that time SECOR was partnering with 4 local schools, less than 200 students each week. For the next two years I served as a volunteer in that program. In March 0f 2017 I was hired as SECOR’s Food for Thought Coordinator. I worked diligently to build relationships of trust to grow the program, which increased to as many as 35 local schools and 2200 children each week. In 2022, I was promoted to the Outreach Program Manager. I now serve as the Development Director for SECOR, which will celebrate is 20th anniversary as a local non-profit this year.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. During COVID, SECOR’s Free Food Market had to operate as a drive-thru instead of our client-choice shopping model. Additionally many of our schools were using remote learning, so the distribution of the bags of non-perishables was very challenging. We had funding highs during COVID, but there was a funding pandemic following the medical pandemic which made serving our guests difficult. Most recently, we have seen the reduction of grant funding overall. The pool of applicants has increased tenfold while the available funds has reduced significantly. In 2025, we saw our guests face challenges of SNAP reductions, fear if deportation and ICE raids, and a government shutdown; when our guests experience challenges, SECOR is beside them navigating the challenges and working to restore their hope for a better tomorrow.
As you know, we’re big fans of SECOR Cares. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
SECOR has been part of the Parker community since the 1990s but will celebrate our official 20th anniversary this year.SECOR Cares is a local non-profit, serving 56 zip codes in the southeast Denver metro through three major programs. Our flagship program is the Free Food Market, which is a client choice model food pantry. Our guests can schedule appointments to shop for groceries twice a month. SECOR has two major outreach programs. The Mobile Market takes our model on the road, most often serving closed populations through partnerships at income-qualified housing, senior living facilities and local college campuses. SECOR’s Food for Thought outreach provides local school children with bags of non-perishables for weekend nutrition.
There are several things that set SECOR apart from other organizations. Most importantly, everything we do at SECOR is done through the lens of restoring hope and dignity for those we serve. Our client-choice shopping model is a direct example of this. Additionally we do not have an income qualifier; instead we choose to take people at their word when they express the need for help. SECOR guests only need to show proof of residency within our 56 zip code service area. We believe restoring hope and dignity is the first step to self-sufficiency, which we strive for through our additional services, including social work appointments, digital learning and financial classes.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I’m not a huge risk taker, and always analyze the risk/reward first.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.secorcares.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/secorcares
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoutheastCommunityOutreach
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/secorcares/
