The communities across Western Colorado, from the plains up into the mountains, continue to see the highest need for support when it comes to alleviating food insecurity compared to the rest of the state. In order to best provide for our Western Colorado neighbors, Food Bank of the Rockies built and recently moved into the new, state-of-the-art Western Slope Etkin Family Distribution Center in Grand Junction. With the ability to distribute upwards of 16 million pounds of nutritious food by 2027, we are committed to providing nourishing, fresh, and culturally appropriate foods for our neighbors experiencing hunger no matter where they call home. 

• In Fiscal Year 2024, Food Bank of the Rockies distributed 12.7 million pounds of food across the Western Slope, the equivalent of over 10.3 million meals. By 2027, we aim to distribute over 16 million pounds of food annually — a 63% increase since the opening of the Etkin Family Distribution Center in 2022.  
• On average, we distribute enough food across the Western Slope to provide nearly 25,000 meals every day.  

• The new Western Slope Etkin Family Distribution Center is home to the only dehydrator program in the entire Feeding America network, allowing Food Bank of the Rockies to transform locally sourced, nourishing produce into convenient, nutritious snacks. 
• We are partnering with St. Mary’s Meals on Wheels Mesa County to help them expand their fresh-meal preparation and delivery service from 600 meals a day to 1,000 meals a day for older adults across Mesa County.