“Your Neighborhood Food Truck” helps connect Denver families to needed food resources
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DENVER (May 7, 2013) – More than 800,000 Coloradans are at risk of hunger, with at least 25 percent of working families going without enough food to meet their basic needs. To help connect families to available food and nutrition resources, Hunger Free Colorado, the state’s leading anti-hunger organization, launched a new kind of food truck today that will visit local neighborhoods throughout the Denver metro area. But this truck won’t serve cupcakes, gourmet sandwiches or street tacos. It’s serving up access to computers and personal support to help local residents apply for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), as well as offering information on nearby food pantries and other nutrition programs.
“SNAP is the first line of defense against hunger, a safety-net for those struggling to get by, yet only 51 percent of eligible Coloradans participate in this vital public health program,” said Kathy Underhill, executive director of Hunger Free Colorado. “Your Neighborhood Food Truck is designed to simplify the SNAP application process and referrals by providing resources and guidance from trained staff and volunteers. It’s a proactive way to reach families and individuals throughout our community who may be experiencing hunger and who are unaware of local assistance options or unable to access services due to limited transportation.”
Hunger Free Colorado kicked off Your Neighborhood Food Truck today at a special event hosted by Denver Health’s Gispon Eastside Family Health Center in Five Points. Supporters of this initiative—including the Denver Office of Economic Development, Share Our Strength, the Colorado Department of Human Services, Denver Human Services, USDA and Denver Health—gathered to unveil the new mobile program and highlight its many benefits for residents of the Mile High City.
“Current economic conditions have resulted in a record number of Colorado families living in poverty,” said Reggie Bicha, executive director for the Colorado Department of Human Services. “A service such as this eliminates barriers for our neighbors who are struggling with hunger—from children to seniors.”
Your Neighborhood Food Truck will visit a variety of sites throughout the city and county of Denver, including health clinics, grocery stores, recreation centers and community events in targeted areas. Hunger Free Colorado will partner with other agencies and organizations that will provide additional educational, screening and interactive opportunities under the truck’s awning as well as on the unit.
“At Share Our Strength, we’re committed to ending childhood hunger by increasing access to programs like SNAP and by teaching families how to cook healthy and affordable meals,” said Summer Gathercole, Colorado Director of Share Our Strength. “We’re grateful that this mobile unit will give more families access to SNAP benefits.”
Hunger Free Colorado has worked on the development of this mobile program for several months and is grateful for funding support received from Share Our Strength and the Office of Economic Development.
“We’re proud to pledge our federal community development dollars toward increasing healthy food access throughout our neighborhoods,” said Paul Washington, executive director of the Denver Office of Economic Development. “Additionally, by boosting SNAP enrollments, we look forward to bringing a significant level of new federal assistance funds to circulate through our local economy.”
To find out if Your Neighborhood Food Truck is scheduled to make a stop in your area, view the mobile program’s calendar online at HungerFreeColorado.org or call the bilingual Hunger Free Hotline at (855) 855-4626.
About Hunger Free Colorado
Hunger Free Colorado was established from a merger of the Colorado Anti-Hunger Network and the Colorado Food Bank Association to create a unified voice against hunger in Colorado. Launched in 2009, the nonprofit organization seeks innovative solutions to the state’s hunger challenges by leveraging the power of collaboration, system change, policy change and social change. Learn more at HungerFreeColorado.org.
Media Contact: Michelle Ray, Director of Communications, (720) 432-0255