DENVER (May 14, 2018) – More Coloradans will have access to fresh, local food thanks to new funding in the state budget. Hunger Free Colorado worked closely with the Joint Budget Committee to secure $500,000 for food pantries and food banks to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables and other Colorado Proud products.
“The ability to purchase food produced in our own state will help our food pantry provide the nutritious food we would otherwise have difficulty acquiring,” said Joyce Neufeld, Executive Director of Community Ministry of Southwest Denver. “As we strive to create healthier communities, funding resources are essential to helping us achieve that goal.”
The power of access to fresh food was apparent during a visit to a local food pantry. An older woman was struggling to make ends meet and came to get food to aid her until the end of the month. As she rounded a corner, she saw fresh plums and tears filled her eyes. When she picked one out, she shared that it had been years since she tasted one, her favorite fruit. On a limited budget, they were beyond her reach. With warm days, cool nights and lots of sunshine, Colorado’s climate is perfect for producing delicious fruits and vegetables. This funding allows food pantries to stock their shelves with the juicy peaches and hearty potatoes we have all come to enjoy.
“Ending hunger in Colorado has to be a collaborative effort. Food pantries cannot do the work we do without financial resources, so it’s encouraging to see our legislators band together and commit to the idea that no Coloradan should be hungry,” said Lyndsey Williams, Director of La Puente’s Food Bank Network of the San Luis Valley. “Further, we’re very excited that these funds will be used to purchase food from local producers. When someone eats locally, they’re doing a favor for themselves and for their community’s economy.”
Colorado has more than 400 locally funded and staffed food pantries, in addition to five food banks that serve different regions of Colorado. As a state with wide-ranging cultural needs, this grant program will help food banks and food pantries to better align their offerings with the preferences of Coloradans of all ages, backgrounds, and zip codes, while supporting local farmers and ranchers.
“Feeding Colorado is extremely grateful to the State Legislature for making this funding available,” said Bob O’Connor, Chair of Feeding Colorado. “Our goal is to ensure that Coloradans facing hunger have access to healthy, fresh food. This funding will go a long way in improving the health and well-being of our neighbors.”
Food pantries and food banks can apply to receive up to $50,000 in funds per year. While 90 percent of funds must be used specifically for the purchase of Colorado Proud products, up to 10 percent of funds may be used for indirect costs associated with the purchase of foods grown and produced in Colorado, such as transportation, refrigeration and storage. The Colorado Department of Human Services will select a third-party community foundation to serve as the fund administrator.
“The availability of nutritious, affordable food is part of a strong foundation for better, healthier lives,” said Kathy Underhill, CEO of Hunger Free Colorado. “Thank you to the full Colorado assembly and to Joint Budget Committee members Rep. Bob Rankin and Sen. Dominick Moreno who were essential to securing this funding.”
This funding is the outgrowth of the Full Pantries, Full Lives Leadership Institute, a two-year project launched in 2014 by Hunger Free Colorado to assess what support food pantries needed to better meet the needs of the people they serve. Client survey data showed customers would like more fresh fruits and vegetables, but given limited resources, food pantries determined they needed additional funding to ensure the foods they stock align with customer preferences.
About Hunger Free Colorado
Hunger Free Colorado, a statewide nonprofit organization, connects families and individuals to food resources and fuels changes in systems, policies and social views, so no Coloradan goes hungry. Learn more at HungerFreeColorado.org.
Media Contact: Ellie Agar, Director of Communications, (720) 464-3620