As part of our ongoing efforts to improve collaboration and effectiveness, we have restructured our Programs Department to provide you, our partners, with dedicated points of contact for all your needs. This change introduces the new Community Connections and Partner Solutions teams, which are designed to streamline communication, offer rapid response times, and strengthen our relationships. By working more cohesively, we aim to enhance our collective impact and make it easier for everyone to work together toward our shared mission to address hunger, nourish neighbors, and support the communities we serve.
Partner Solutions Team
The new Partner Solutions team will be your main resource for day-to-day questions and requests related to your hunger-relief programs. Partner Solutions will assist with inquiries about program requirements, orders, associated operations, and training. Led by LaDonna Valenzuela, Partner Solutions Manager, and Chris Taylor, Director of Community Services, this will ensure you get the support needed to keep things running smoothly. The Partner Solutions Team will be your dedicated point of contact for operational help, supporting you to have the information you need for our collective hunger-relief efforts. For assistance with day-to-day inquiries related to ordering schedules, logging in to Agency Express and NeoGov, questions about our hours, and more, please contact partnersolutions@foodbankrockies.org or 303-375-5867 for assistance.
Community Connections Team
We’re excited to introduce our new Community Connections Team, which will play a central role in strengthening relationships across the communities we serve. This team will visit our Hunger Relief Partners on behalf of all programs and coordinate participation in coalitions, fostering collaboration and supporting the implementation of neighbor-centered practices. Led by Ashley Newell, Director of Community Building and Food Systems, and Reegan Moskowitz, Community Connections Manager, the team will work closely with local partners to address hunger’s root causes and align our efforts with community priorities. Each partner will have a dedicated Community Connector for visits and initiatives, ensuring a streamlined, unified approach. You’ll hear from your team member soon to schedule an opportunity for introductions!
Be well,
Ashley Newell
Director of Community Building and Food Systems
Important Dates
Please note the following dates including changes in ordering timeline due to the Memorial Day holiday.
- Monday, April 14: Effective going forward – Change in Partner Dock Hours (see “Partner Solutions” section below)
- Thursday, May 8: Media Training for Hunger Relief Partners (sign up required, see below)
- Tuesday, May 13: Hunger Relief Partner Orientation at 10:00 a.m. (virtual)
- Wednesday, May 19: Hunger Relief Partner Orientation at 10:00 a.m. (in-person tour + orientation)
- Thursday, May 22: Place orders for a Tuesday, May 27, pick-up due to closure on Monday, May 26
- Friday May 23: Place orders for a Wednesday, May 28, pick-up due to closure on Monday, May 26
- Monday, May 26: Food Bank of the Rockies is closed for Memorial Day
- Thursday, May 29: Hunger Relief Partner Orientation at 1:00 p.m. (virtual)
To sign up for orientation or for questions about any of the dates above, contact partnersolutions@foodbankrockies.org. For our full, detailed calendars, please click here.
Feeding Colorado Advocacy/Policy Update
Welcome Ron – New Feeding Colorado Government Relations Manager

Ron Meehan is excited to join Feeding Colorado as the Government Relations Manager. He previously served as Director of Government Affairs for Food Bank of Alaska and Manager of Alaska Food Coalition, where he coordinated more than 215 food banks and food pantries, tribal organizations, faith-based groups, health centers, and senior centers, among others. He has either volunteered, worked, or been a board member for food banks for the last 17 years, beginning as a volunteer at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank when he was eight years old. He previously served as the secretary of the Alaska Public Interest Research Group, a board member for the Alaska Food Policy Council, and president of the largest community council in Alaska. He has a background in politics and advocacy and has worked on over a dozen campaigns from legislative races to governor. He received a BA from Wesleyan University in government and environmental studies and a certificate in nonprofit management from The Foraker Group. You can reach him at rmeehan@feedingcolorado.org.
Feeding Colorado State Legislative Tracker
Check out our state bill tracker on our website to see which bills we’re following in the 2025 Colorado General Assembly. We are continuing to advocate for the Community Food Providers Assistance Grant during significant budget challenges in the state.
Federal Updates
We are tracking federal program changes very closely and are in communication with state agencies, food bank programs staff, and leadership to understand real-time impacts to programs and neighbors. In addition, we are in close contact with our members of Congress and advocate frequently for the programs our network relies on.
Partner Impact Form
Please use this form to submit any comments, questions or concerns about how any executive orders may be impacting your network.
Action Alerts
Are you interested in getting more involved in advocacy? Fill out this form to learn more and get involved! We will be sharing action alerts, updates, and newsletters to subscribers in the coming months.
Join Food Bank of the Rockies and Denver7’s Allie Jennerjahn for a Media Training Workshop
Are you the go-to person for media outreach at your organization? We would love you to join us for Food Bank of the Rockies’ Media Training Workshop for Hunger Relief Partners!
Together, we’ll explore how to effectively pitch stories to media outlets, craft compelling messages and talking points, and shine in interviews. Plus, Allie Jennerjahn, Denver7’s morning show reporter, will be joining us for a Q&A session — answering your questions and sharing tips on building stronger relationships with reporters and delivering memorable soundbites in interviews. Join us to enhance your media outreach skills and make an even bigger impact in nourishing our community. We look forward to seeing you there!
- Date: May 8, 2025
- Time: 10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. (optional lunch and networking from 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.)
- Location: Food Bank of the Rockies, 10700 E. 45th Ave., Denver, CO 8029
Spaces for this in-person event are limited; advanced sign-up is required. Only 20 spots are available, so secure your spot today by registering here.
Program Updates
Quarterly Town Halls
Quarterly town halls offer an opportunity for our Hunger Relief Partners in each region to connect with each other, learn about updates and opportunities relevant to their geographic regions, and more. In May, we’ll discuss our new Community Connections and Partner Solutions teams, designed to better serve you and the neighbors we support together. Invites and Teams meeting links will be sent to the main contact on your account. We hope to see you there!
- Eastern Plains Town Hall: Tuesday, May 6, from 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.
- Mountain: Wednesday, May 14, from 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.
- Western Slope: Wednesday, May 21, from 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.
- Metro Denver: Tuesday, May 27, from 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.
Partner Solutions
Effective April 14, The Partner Dock and Window will be closed for lunch from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This change allows staff to take a lunch break and restock the Fresh Food Center. During this period, the entrance to our warehouse and the partner waiting area lobby will be closed to partners. We ask that you remain in your vehicle or outside until 12:30 p.m. We appreciate your understanding. Hunger Relief Partners who have placed an order for 12:30 p.m. pick-up will still receive 20 minutes to go through the Fresh Food Center once you have checked in.
With this scheduled lunch break, please be advised that our Fresh Food Center hours are also affected. Without an order, the new afternoon hours will be from 1:00 p.m.-3:10 p.m., Monday through Friday. Additionally, we will no longer accept early check-in for Fresh Food Center visits; sign-in without an order will begin at 1:00 p.m.
Should you have any questions about these new hours and processes for visiting our distribution center in the afternoon, please contact partnersolutions@foodbankrockies.org.
Government Programs
Everyday Eats
We are pleased to announce another increase in the income eligibility guidelines for Everyday Eats, effective March 7, 2025. This increase is based on 150% of the 2025 Federal Poverty Level.
We will share new applications as soon as we receive them from the Colorado Department of Human Services. While we wait, please use the guidelines below to confirm neighbor eligibility along with age and state residency. Link2Feed has been updated to reflect these new guidelines.
https://cdhs.colorado.gov/CSFP
Household size | Monthly maximum household income | Annual maximum household income |
1 | $1,957 | $23,475 |
2 | $2,644 | $31,725 |
3 | $3,332 | $39,975 |
4 | $4,019 | $48,225 |
5 | $4,707 | $56,475 |
6 | $5,394 | $64,725 |
Add per extra family member | $688 | $8,250 |
Food for Kids Update
2025 SFSP Applications are Open!
The application for our kids’ summer meal program is now open! The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides free and nutritious breakfast, lunch or dinner to school-aged children in qualifying areas. Options include fresh or shelf-stable meals and qualifying rural sites can apply to receive up to 10 meals at once per child for them to take home.
Applications are due by May 7 to ensure you’re able to start on the first day of service, June 9. Any applications received after May 7 may mean your site will not be able to begin meal service until after June 9. The application can be found here.
If you have any questions, please email FFK@foodbankrockies.org.
Reminder for Current CACFP Partners
If you are currently receiving after-school meals through our kitchen, please remember that the kitchen will be closed on April 30 due to an all-staff meeting. There will be no meal delivery that day. You may, however, pick up shelf-stable meals for your site in advance. If desired, please let us know 14 days in advance of April 30 (minimum 7 days) to ensure we have enough food. Email FFK@foodbankrockies.org to order ahead.
Our last day of service for the 2024-2025 CACFP year will be Friday, May 30. This provides our teams with time to prepare for the summer meals program.
Culturally Responsive Food Initiative Update
Passover is being observed by our Jewish neighbors April 12-20. Below are ingredient suggestions for Passover-friendly meals that you can offer to community members observing the holiday:
- Matzo – A staple of Passover, matzo is unleavened bread.
- Potatoes – Versatile and easy to cook, potatoes can be used in a variety of dishes, such as kugel, latkes or roasted sides.
- Root Vegetables – Carrots, sweet potatoes, parsnips, and beets are great for roasting or making hearty soups and salads.
- Fresh Fruits – Apples, pears, oranges, and berries can be used in desserts and salads or as fresh snacks.
- Eggs – Eggs are an important ingredient in many Passover dishes like matzo brei and kugel, or for adding protein to salads.
- Chicken – A common protein choice, chicken can be roasted, grilled or stewed, and it’s easy to prepare without using any leavened products.
- Fish – Kosher fish like salmon or tilapia is a great option for a lighter meal and can be used in Passover dishes like gefilte fish.
- Nuts and Seeds – Almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds make great additions to salads, snacks or baked goods.
- Coconut and Almond Flour – These gluten-free alternatives can be used for baking Passover-friendly cakes or cookies.
- Herbs and Spices – Fresh herbs like parsley, dill, rosemary, and thyme can add flavor to dishes, while spices like cinnamon, paprika, and turmeric are great for seasoning.
- Olive Oil – A healthy fat option for cooking and dressing salads or vegetables.
- Canned Beans – Beans like chickpeas or lentils can serve as a source of protein for salads, stews or even a matzo ball soup substitute.
These ingredients offer flexibility in meal preparation, allowing individuals and families to prepare Passover meals that align with both dietary and cultural needs.
Food Sourcing Update
Food Bank of the Rockies was fortunate to receive fiscal year 2025 state funding to purchase highly desired and nutritious food to distribute to partners at no cost. This grant, the Community Food Provider Assistance Grant (CFPAG), has enabled us to provide hundreds of thousands of pounds of nutritious, shelf-stable items and locally sourced Colorado protein to partners this year! The final loads of CFPAG product will be landing in our Denver and Western Slope distribution centers this month. We are excited to provide the following: canned tuna, canned green beans, canned soup, and Colorado-produced frozen ground beef, ground pork, ground chicken, and chicken breasts. You can find CFPAG products on Partner Express by searching “CFPAG” in the search bar. Please note that these are the last CFPAG loads for this fiscal year, which ends on June 30.
The Purchasing Team is also excited to launch a Partner Purchased Food Preference Survey! This is the first time Food Bank of the Rockies has conducted a survey specifically around our purchased food inventory. We plan to use these insights to directly influence our purchased product availability and better tailor it to what our partners need and prefer when purchasing food items. If you purchase food from us, look for an email from your Community Connector team member with a link to the survey. Your response is vital to helping us better meet your needs and the needs of our neighbors!
Nutrition Update
Supporting Wellness at Pantries (SWAP) has launched! Partners who implement SWAP at their pantries promote well-balanced nutrition and chronic disease prevention with neighbors by using an easy-to-understand stoplight ranking system of foods. The training course on NEOGOV is live and you can self-enroll to learn more about the program and test your knowledge. This training course is required for partners implementing SWAP. For more information about how to bring SWAP to your organization, reach out to Jennie Kim, Nutrition Manager, at jkim@foodbankrockies.org or call 303-879-0236. Log in here to find the training: foodbankrockies.org/partner-portal/partner-training
New Program Staffing Announcements
Meet Tahmina – New Partner Solutions Representative
Hello! My name is Tahmina Iqbalzada, and I’ve recently joined Food Bank of the Rockies as a Partner Solutions Representative. In this role, I’ll support our Hunger Relief Partners by responding to inquiries, managing Help Desk tickets, and working closely with various departments to ensure smooth communication and timely resolution. I’m also here to help partners navigate our systems and tools, intending to make their experience as efficient and supportive as possible.
A little about me: Outside of work, I enjoy reading, trying out new recipes (especially ones that remind me of home), spending time outdoors, and learning about different cultures through language and conversation. I’ve always been passionate about community-building and connection, so I’m grateful to be part of Food Bank of the Rockies. If I can be of any support to you, please contact me via partnersolutions@foodbankrockies.org.
Neighbor Resources
Open Position Spotlight
Join Our Team
Food Bank of the Rockies works to make food security a reality for families in Colorado and Wyoming. Working at Food Bank of the Rockies is more than “just a job”. Our team contributes their skills nourishing neighbors and work with amazing partners like you! If working to alleviate hunger sounds like the way you’d like to spend your workday, apply for one of our open opportunities: foodbankrockies.org/about/join-our-team
Food Bank of the Rockies is an equal opportunity employer and offers paid time off, health, dental, and 401K benefits.