Dear Hunger Relief Partners,
On February 3, I sent out an email with an overview of what we know about federal policy changes that may impact the availability of federal funding and federally sourced foods. While the policy environment is evolving, our message to you, as partners, remains the same.
While there are many unknowns at the federal level, I want to assure you that Food Bank of the Rockies is actively working to ensure as little disruption as possible to the food and resources you receive. As background, Food Bank of the Rockies partners with the federal government to administer the following programs: The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), Commodity Supplemental Food Program (Everyday Eats), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), The Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA), Summer Food Service Program (SUN Meals), Child and Adult Care Food Program, and SNAP Outreach. These programs make up approximately 15% of Food Bank of the Rockies’ funding and 20% of our overall budget, including food distributed. Like you, we are deeply concerned about potential impacts to the neighbors we serve.
We recognize that navigating these uncertainties is difficult for organizations such as yours that — in partnership with Food Bank of the Rockies — are committed to nourishing our neighbors. We are working closely with Feeding Colorado and Feeding America food banks statewide and nationally to closely monitor federal policy changes, while ensuring elected officials understand the critical role of these programs to alleviate hunger and lift neighbors out of poverty. We’re also sharing the importance of the hundreds of Hunger Relief Partners within our network, like yourself, who share in our mission to provide food to anyone experiencing hunger.
We will keep you informed on any measures that definitively affect Food Bank of the Rockies and the food we provide to you. If you would like to receive Feeding Colorado email updates on policy priorities and opportunities to share your story with elected officials, you can sign up here.
Most importantly, we want to assure you that Food Bank of the Rockies remains steadfast in our mission to ignite the power of community to nourish people facing hunger. We cannot do this without each of you, and we will continue to communicate as we learn more.
With gratitude and commitment to our mission,
Erin Pulling
President & CEO
Important Fresh Food Center Updates
Our Fresh Food Center guidelines have been updated to reflect our priority to keep partners and staff safe. We are a busy warehouse environment and ask for your help in ensuring safety for all. Please be aware that these changes are now in place and plan for them on your next visit:
- Only ONE shopper in the Fresh Food Center
- A shopper must always be with a staff member
- No unattended children in the warehouse or outside
As the weather warms, please remember closed-toes shoes are required
L2F Updates
On January 29, our annual reminder of Link2Feed data policies was sent to all Hunger Relief Partners. This is a reminder of our mutual commitment to treat the people we serve with dignity and respect. Please review this email and the following agreements we have between our organizations in relation to Link2Feed use:
Link2 Feed Address Field Changes
The following changes have been made to the State of Colorado’s requirements to receive TEFAP provisions.
Rule
- The State of Colorado may no longer require households to provide an address or identification to demonstrate eligibility to receive TEFAP.
Changes to Link2Feed
- The blue star and requirement setting for the Address Line 1, City, County, and State fields have been removed.
- The ZIP code field will remain required. If, for any reason, the neighbor chooses not to provide their ZIP code, then the ZIP code of the pantry they are attending must be used in its place.
- You may still ask the neighbor if they would like to provide address, city, county, and state information, but they are NOT obligated to do so.
We are here to answer any questions and help you navigate difficult circumstances; please don’t hesitate to reach out by emailing L2F@foodbankrockies.org.
Program Updates
New Find Food Map Is Live – Learn More During the Webinar on March 5
We’re excited to share that our new Find Food Map, powered by Vivery, is now live on our website! This tool helps neighbors find your services quickly and easily with updated, accurate information about locations, hours, programs, and more. The full rollout to our Hunger Relief Partners will officially begin in March.
Join the March webinar to learn more about the new map, its features, and claiming your profile.
- March 5: 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
- Register today! https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__U7nGnL3Q46tX6APKLaMjA#/registration
Can’t make it? No worries! The webinar will be recorded and shared via email.
By the end of this webinar, you will have claimed your pantry’s profile, become familiar with the Vivery platform, and learned what to expect as you begin enhancing your profile. We are so excited to show you how Vivery can help your neighbors utilize all of your programs and services! This is a great opportunity to update your profile and help neighbors find you faster.
Want to claim your profile early? Contact Vivery Support to claim your profile now! support@vivery.org
Get your Partner News Online and More!
Our Partner Portal received a recent makeover! Check it out here: foodbankrockies.org/partner-portal.
What will you find there? Our monthly partner newsletter, important program forms and documents, and training. If you have any questions, please reach out to partnersupport@foodbankrockies.org.
Government Programs
New Everyday Eats Income Eligibility Announced
Are you looking to expand your Everyday Eats outreach? More neighbors now qualify with the recent update to income eligibility!
| Household
Size |
Monthly maximum household income | Annual maximum household income |
| 1 | $1,883 | $22,590 |
| 2 | $2,555 | $30,660 |
| 3 | $3,228 | $38,730 |
| 4 | $3,900 | $46,800 |
| 5 | $4,573 | $54,870 |
| 6 | $5,245 | $62,940 |
| Add per extra family member | $673 | $8,070 |
Find the updated Everyday Eats applications on our Partner Portal here: foodbankrockies.org/partner-portal/partner-forms-documents
We are also pleased to share we can now create personalized outreach flyers for you! Please email us at everydayeats@foodbankrockies.org with information you want included!
Food for Kids Update
Totes of Hope™
Please remember to enter your Totes of Hope™ distribution information into Link2Feed. This helps us understand the greater impact of the program. We will pause Totes of Hope™ orders if Link2Feed entries are not created. Please reach out to ffk@foodbankrockies.org with questions or concerns.
Culturally Responsive Food Initiative Update
Receive $1,000 in food credits to respond to your community’s preferences!
The Culturally Responsive Team is excited to share information on a new learning opportunity available to our Hunger Relief Partners: The Community Food Preference Learning Path. Our team will support you in completing a food preference survey with your neighbors to better understand the unique preferences and dietary needs of your community, and you will receive $1,000 in food credits to respond to the insights gained.
Watch the video below to learn more. Please reach out to crfi@foodbankrockies.org with any questions.
February 28 marks the beginning of the month of Ramadan!
Ramadan is the holy month of fasting and prayer for Muslim communities around the world. This year, Ramadan begins on February 28 and ends on March 29. While food traditions vary, both the suhoor (pre-dawn) and iftar (evening) meals often contain fresh fruit, vegetables, halal meats, bread, cheeses, and sweets, including dates.
To learn more about Ramadan and other cultural holidays, check out our 2025 Cultural Holidays Calendar!
Nutrition Update
Supporting Wellness at Pantries (SWAP)
Supporting Wellness at Pantries (SWAP) is coming soon! SWAP is a nutrition ranking system that makes it easy to identify the nutritional content of foods and encourages neighbors to choose a well-balanced, nutrition-filled lifestyle. SWAP uses Healthy Eating Research (HER) guidelines to rank food items, with a goal of decreasing the risk of diet-related chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. To learn more on how to bring SWAP to your pantry, contact Jennie Kim at jkim@foodbankrockies.org or 303-879-0236.
Check out these multilingual resources your pantry can use for nutrition education:
- Eat the Rainbow Poster
- Decoding Food Labels (PDF from Food Smarts)
- Safe Food Extension Dates Poster
- Editable Nutrition Nugget Posters
- Tasty Tip Ideas and Signage
Staff Highlight
Staff Highlight: Gabriela Garayar – Strengthening Communities, One Connection at a Time
At Food Bank of the Rockies, we know that nourishing our neighbors takes more than just food — it takes strong relationships, strategic partnerships, and a deep commitment to addressing root causes. That’s where Gabriela Garayar, our Senior Development Manager, shines.
Gabriela works to connect donors and volunteers with meaningful opportunities to support hunger relief efforts across the Western Slope. She loves sharing the incredible work our partners do, ensuring their impact is seen and supported by the broader community. Her passion lies in breaking down the barriers that cause neighbors to experience hunger, focusing on long-term solutions that “shorten the line” rather than just filling it.
Before stepping into the world of fundraising, Gabriela worked in healthcare, but as she puts it, she was “bit by the food bank bug” while working at another Feeding America food bank in Florida. After 15 years in Tampa, she found her way to Colorado through her spouse’s family home in Silverton. Now, when she’s not flying off to explore a new destination, you can often find her soaking in the mountain views there on the weekends.
Outside of work, Gabriela stays active with paddle boarding, kickboxing, and hiking. She’s also a rookie at-home gardener, learning the ropes one plant at a time.
We’re grateful to have Gabriela on our team, using her talents to strengthen connections and ignite our community around our mission. If you see her around, be sure to say hello — just don’t be surprised if she’s already planning her next adventure!
Partner Highlight
Welcoming Maranatha Hispanic SDA Church: A New Partner in Nourishing the Community
We are thrilled to welcome Maranatha Hispanic SDA Church as our newest Hunger Relief Partner! Located in a community that they deeply care about in Montrose, the dedicated team at Maranatha Hispanic SDA Church has been working for three years to support their neighbors in need. Now, with their newly launched pantry, they are taking an even bigger step in service and ensuring that families, children, and older adults have access to nourishing food.
The dream of starting a pantry had been in the hearts of the staff for a long time. Thanks to a referral from another partner, they connected with Food Bank of the Rockies to bring that vision to life. Ruby and her team, including Pastor Santo, Magbis, and Monica, are filled with compassion and determination. Their goal is simple yet powerful: to serve their community with dignity, kindness, and the nourishment everyone deserves.
At their very first distribution, they provided preassembled food boxes to nearly two dozen families — a fantastic start to what we know will be a lasting and meaningful impact. We are honored to support Maranatha Hispanic SDA Church in this journey and can’t wait to see their pantry grow.
Please join us in celebrating this new partnership and the difference they are already making!
Neighbor Resources
Know Your Rights
Learn more below about available resources for immigrants and families seeking legal support as well as information on how to exercise your rights. Some materials are available in multiple languages: [clickable image of Know Your Rights poster from recent Denver partner newsletter]
- Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC): Watch their “Know Your Rights” presentation for helpful insights. View it hereand explore other resources on their website.
- Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC): Download printable “Know Your Rights” red cards in multiple languages to distribute in your community. Learn more here.
- ACLU “Know Your Rights” Resources: Access materials and a multilingual video series outlining immigrant rights. Resources hereand video series here.
- Informed Immigrant: Find guidance on scenarios such as interacting with ICE, workplace visits, or family preparedness plans. Explore resources here.
- National Immigration Law Center (NILC): Comprehensive “Know Your Rights” guides. Access here.
- Immigrant Defense Project: Learn what to do during encounters with ICE. Visit here.
**********
This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Read full USDA non-discrimination statement by clicking here.
