Hello to all our Western Slope Partners,
As we enter the holiday season, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the incredible work you do to serve our communities. This is a special yet challenging time of year as we work together to meet the increased need in our communities. It truly takes a team effort, and I’m honored to walk alongside you in this mission.
To our partners who pick up locally at the Fresh Food Center (FFC), I want to highlight a few updates to ensure safety and fairness:
- Safety Enhancements: We’ve implemented safety vests, wheel chocks, and directional signage at the docks to create a safer and more efficient environment.
- Donation Limits: Due to the increased need we have all seen this past year, limits are in place for some sought-after items. However, rescued produce and bread remain plentiful and without restrictions. For partners outside our local network interested in these items, please reach out to Becky Richardson at brichardson@foodbankrockies.org. Thank you to our warehouse operations teams and drivers for tirelessly rescuing food to nourish our neighbors!
I’m also excited to share the progress of our Dehydrator Program. Over the past 10 months, we’ve produced more than 25,000 one-ounce packages of dried fruit to distribute across our Western Slope network, supporting kids’ meal programs. We’re continually refining the process and engaging more volunteers to expand capacity. If you’d like to learn more, please get in touch with me at sserve@foodbankrockies.org.
Lastly, I encourage you to visit our updated facility. Thanks to our amazing donors, we now have a spacious conference room and garden area. These spaces allow us to host meaningful events like Family Night, where volunteers of all ages help sort donations and prep for distributions. If you’re passing through Grand Junction, stop by to meet our team and enjoy the space!
Thank you for letting me be part of this journey for the past four years. While much has changed, the heart of our mission remains brighter than ever. I look forward to reconnecting with familiar faces and meeting new ones in the year ahead.
Warmly,
Steven Serve
Volunteer Operations Supervisor
Important Dates
- December 13 – Employee holiday celebration, closed for deliveries, pick-ups, and shopping
- December 23 – Orders due for pick-ups on December 26
- December 24 – Orders due for pick-ups on December 27
- December 25 – Closed for the Christmas holiday
- December 30 – Orders due for pick-ups on January 2
- December 31 – Orders due for pick-ups on January 3
- January 1 – Closed for New Year’s Day
Advocacy/Policy Update
Get involved!
You can make a difference by speaking up and speaking out against hunger and its root causes. Are you interested in getting more involved in advocacy? Fill out this form to learn more and get involved! https://forms.office.com/r/2sauRbHR0n
Farm Bill
Feeding Colorado continues to engage with our congressional delegation to promote the network’s priorities in the farm bill. As committee chairs in the House and Senate release their farm bill frameworks, Feeding Colorado is working closely with national partners to flag concerns and opportunities for the Colorado delegation.
Click this link for more information from Feeding America.
Click here to see our press statements about recent versions of the farm bill from the House and Senate Agriculture Committees.
Fall Site Visits
We’re thrilled to host several legislators at food banks across the state this fall. If you’re interested in hosting your local legislator at your food distribution, contact Sarah at sgregory@feedingcolorado.org.
Grant Opportunities
Funding Opportunity
America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative (a USDA program) is accepting inquiry forms through their Fare Fund Program. More information can be found at investinginfood.com/funding-opportunities.
Grant Writing Support and Training
Need help writing grant applications or other support getting extra funding for your program? Check out the resources from Community Resource Center: crcamerica.org.
Opportunity for Collaboration with MBA Students on Hunger Relief Initiatives
We are excited to share a unique opportunity for Hunger Relief organizations! Professor Murat Kucukvar from the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver is looking to partner with nonprofits for the upcoming Social Good Challenge, a 10-week intensive MBA course starting January 6, 2025.
MBA students will collaborate directly with your organization to address key challenges connected to food security, access to affordable food, and hunger, and develop actionable solutions tailored to your needs. Each team will produce a comprehensive final report and present their findings to your organization at the conclusion of the course.
If you are interested in exploring this collaboration, please contact Professor Murat Kucukvar at murat.kucukvar@du.edu for more details.
Partner Support
Wintertime Reminders
Winter is here! Please note that closures or delays may happen due to severe weather. If you had a pick-up order scheduled during the day of closure, the programs team will be the main contact on your account. If you need to update the main contact on behalf of your account, please fill out a Programs Update form and send it to jilldavis@foodbankrockies.org.
Please note that pick-up orders the day following a weather closure may also need to be rescheduled. If needed, the partner support team will contact you to reschedule that pick-up within three business days. In this case, if you don’t hear from us, your order will not need to be rescheduled and you should arrive at your previously scheduled time.
If you have a delivery that must be rescheduled due to severe weather, the partner support team will reach out to your main contact to coordinate a new delivery date. Our goal is to reschedule your delivery as soon as the weather permits and per our schedule, ideally within one week.
If you have any questions about these wintertime processes, please contact jilldavis@foodbankrockies.org or Becky Richardson at brichardson@foodbankrockies.org.
2025 Delivery Schedule
The Western Slope 2025 delivery schedule is now available for partners to view in the Partner Portal! Visit foodbankrockies.org/partner-portal/partner-calendars-schedules and click on your city/area beneath Western Slope Delivery Schedules.
What’s a Gaylord?
Please read below for information about ordering full gaylords through Agency Express! Some donations we receive are brought to Food Bank of the Rockies in a large cardboard bin often referred to as a gaylord. Gaylords can weigh anywhere from 200 pounds to over 800 pounds! Gaylords can be a great option for larger Hunger Relief Partners.
- Check the description: When placing online orders, gaylords will be noted in either the description 1 column or the description 2 column – often described as “Full Pallet” or “Pallet.”
- Check the weight: Looking under the Gross Weight column, this is the unit weight and will provide more insight into what you are ordering. An item weighing hundreds of pounds will most likely be a gaylord.
- Be sure! When gaylords are accidentally ordered and have to be restocked into the warehouse, this delays the distribution of this product, potentially causing quality issues.
To learn more about different types of units, check out this handy guide: Partner Express Item Descriptors
Government Programs
Upcoming Everyday Eats Office Hours
Join us during scheduled office hours to ask your questions about Everyday Eats and hear updates from our government programs team.
Thursday, December 5
- By Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86266946274?pwd=2o6cxF6cmKrngnIzilbpqNGZO6jnuL.1
- Meeting ID: 862 6694 6274 Passcode: 684868
Friday, December 13
- By Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81306321377?pwd=7POxhlTZJbavvsrgzIqbQEMi7y6JFN.1
- Meeting ID: 813 0632 1377 Passcode: 896312
Food for Kids Update
Holiday Closures
As the holiday season approaches, please make sure that the Food for Kids team is aware of any upcoming closures that will impact meal service or Totes of Hope™ order delivery.
- For CACFP sites, we need at least 48 business hours’ notice.
- For Totes of Hope™ sites, we need at least two weeks’ notice.
All updates can be sent to our shared inbox: FFK@foodbankrockies.org. Failure to notify the Food for Kids team within the required time frames could result in a disruption to service at your location.
With your help and communication, we can significantly reduce food waste, delivery and gas costs, and staff time. This saves thousands of dollars annually and ensures we can continue providing nutritious food to children and families in need.
Food Sourcing Update
Grant-Funded Food Has Arrived from the CFPAG (Community Food Provider Access Grant)
We are pleased to announce that a variety of foods are now available to order from Agency Express at no cost, thanks to funding from the state of Colorado. This effort is funded by the Community Food Provider Access Grant (CFPAG) and will operate in a similar manner to the CEF-funded items that were made available last year and earlier this year. The CFPAG items will include agricultural items from Colorado producers (e.g. frozen ground beef, frozen chicken, eggs), along with nutrient-dense, shelf-stable pantry items in high demand (e.g. canned protein, canned fruit, canned vegetables, peanut butter). We intend to spend the funds in a manner that makes no-cost items available in bursts, once per quarter through June 2025. Please keep an eye out for more communication on the timing and items that will be available.
Partner Highlight
Partner Highlight: Collaboration for Holiday Care
With the holiday season here, the power of partnership shines brighter than ever. This year marks the third Thanksgiving and Christmas that our partners, Community Market and Salvation Army Vail Valley, have teamed up to bring comfort and nourishment to neighbors in need. Together, they will deliver nearly 600 holiday boxes and produce bags to families across our community for each holiday — a testament to the impact of collaboration and community care.
Each season, this partnership draws strength from the generosity of others. Salvation Army Vail Valley provides the boxes, thanks to a donation from Feeding the Children. Inside, families will find produce bags brimming with potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, celery, carrots, apples, and green beans, along with the essentials for a festive meal: stuffing and gravy. To complete the feast, each family also receives a $20 City Market gift card, giving them the opportunity to purchase a turkey, ham, or other preferred item for their celebration.
The magic behind these efforts wouldn’t be possible without the power of community. Over the course of two to three days for each holiday, more than 200 volunteers step up to sort, pack, and deliver these boxes of hope. From unloading supplies to assembling produce bags, their dedication brings joy and nourishment to life.
The giving spirit extends beyond volunteers to first responders throughout Eagle County and its towns. On the Saturday before Thanksgiving and again before Christmas, these local heroes join the effort, delivering boxes and bags directly to families. Seeing firefighters, police officers, and paramedics delivering meals is a touching reminder of their care for the community, both in emergencies and in everyday acts of kindness.
This partnership exemplifies how hunger relief organizations can amplify their impact by working together. We are so proud to call both of these organizations our partners! As we reflect on this season of giving, we celebrate every hand that makes these initiatives a success. From donors and volunteers to community partners, each contribution strengthens our shared mission.
Here’s to another holiday season of collaboration, compassion, and shared purpose. Together, we’re ensuring no family goes without a meal — or joy — this Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Volunteer Highlight
Tom Ashlock
We are fortunate to have dedicated volunteers like Tom Ashlock, whose warm heart and tireless energy brightens our distribution center. A Colorado native, Tom was born and raised in Dillon, moved to Lakewood in 1956, and has called the Grand Valley home since 1998.
Tom lives in Loma with his wife and their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Molly. When he’s not volunteering, Tom is likely behind the wheel of his 38-foot toy hauler, exploring Colorado’s backcountry. Whether it’s fishing on the Grand Mesa or riding trails with Molly in his side-by-side, Tom knows how to make the most of retirement.
After decades of driving big rigs, Tom joined us as a volunteer in 2023, seeking purpose in his post-career life. “I needed something to do,” he shared, “and a warehouse with a cause felt like home.” His hands-on experience and work ethic make him an incredible asset to our team.
As much as Tom enjoys lending a hand at the Food Bank, he’s equally passionate about playing Santa during the holidays — a role he’s loved for years. “Kids always surprise me,” he said with a chuckle. “You never know what they’ll come up with!”
Tom’s big heart, love for community, and adventurous spirit make him a cherished part of the Food Bank of the Rockies team. We’re grateful for all he does to help nourish our neighbors. Thank you, Tom!
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This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Click here for full USDA non-discrimination statement.
