As the holiday season approaches, we want to take a moment to extend our heartfelt gratitude to you for your unwavering support throughout the year. Thanks to your partnership, we have been able to provide nourishing food to tens of thousands of families, ensuring that no one in our community goes hungry.
The holidays are a time of warmth, togetherness, and giving. However, for many of our neighbors, this season can be difficult as they struggle to put food on the table. At Food Bank of the Rockies, we are committed to bringing comfort and nourishment to our neighbors experiencing hunger. By working together, we are making a difference in the lives of children, older adults, and families across the region.
As we reflect on the impact we’ve made together, we are inspired by the stories of hope and resilience from the people we help support. Your contributions within our community are more than a meal or box of food — they create a system of hope, stability, and care for our neighbors.
As demand increases, so does our support for neighbors during this critical season. If you find yourself struggling to meet neighbors’ needs, please let us know, as we can connect you to other partners committed to nourishing our neighbors who may be able to step in. Together, we can make this holiday season brighter for everyone in our community.
From all of us at Food Bank of the Rockies, we wish you a joyous holiday season filled with love, peace, and happiness. Thank you for being a beacon of hope for those who need it most.
Many blessings,
Elise Taylor
Food For Kids Representative
Important Dates
Please note that due to the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays, ordering schedules have been updated. Pleased review the following closely.
- December 3 – New partner and shopper orientation at 10:00 a.m.
- December 19 – New partner and shopper orientation at 1:00 p.m.
- December 23 – Orders due for pick-ups on December 26
- December 24 – Orders due for pick-ups on December 27
- December 25 – Food Bank of the Rockies will be 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; Food Bank of the Rockies will be open until 11:00 a.m. for pick-ups and Fresh Food Center access
- January 1 – Food Bank of the Rockies will be closed for New Year’s Day
To sign up for orientation or for questions about any of the dates above, contact partnersupport@foodbankrockies.org. For our full, detailed calendars, please click here.
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.
Candidate Questionnaires
The Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger, a collective impact organization supporting a statewide network to collectively achieve food sovereignty in Colorado, and Feeding Colorado, the state association of the five Feeding America food banks that serve Colorado, collected candidate questionnaires for key 2024 congressional races with the intention of informing voters about their stances on food insecurity-related issues. See here for the candidate responses. Click here to find your congressional district.
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.
Program Updates
Wintertime Reminders
Winter is just around the corner! 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 Partner Support team will contact the main contact on your account and give you the option to either reschedule that pick-up within three business days or cancel your order, free of charge. If you need to update the main contact on behalf of your account, please fill out a Programs Update form and send it to partnersupport@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 either reschedule that pick-up within three business days or cancel your order, free of charge. 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 contact 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 partnersupport@foodbankrockies.org.
Partner Support
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.
Monday, December 2 – 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
- By Zoom https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89860156176?pwd=J5fAMPsae4pbmsywUS3GjMR5hCEwBh.1
- Meeting ID: 898 6015 6176 Passcode: 569553
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.
Culturally Responsive Food Initiative Update
Native American Heritage Month
November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures and traditions of Native people. This month serves as a great opportunity to educate ourselves about the history of Native communities and raise awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced and are currently facing. A great place to start to learn more is through one of our previous Building Belonging Lunch & Learn sessions: Understanding Indigenous Food Ways, presented by Jacqueline White, Tribal Relations Specialist at Food Bank of Wyoming.
The session is available in both English and Spanish. You can view additional past Lunch & Learns here.
Please reach out to crfi@foodbankrockies.org with any questions!
Food Sourcing Update
Holiday Items Available
We have some inventory remaining on Thanksgiving holiday items. Please take advantage of these items while supplies last. For the upcoming Christmas, New Year’s, and Navidad holidays, we will carry an assortment of relevant items, including frozen hams, corn husks, masa flour, corn tortillas, flour tortillas, dry pinto beans, dry black beans, dried ancho chiles, dried arbol chiles, ground cumin, diced tomatoes, and fresh onions.
Grant-Funded Food Coming Soon from the CFPAG (Community Food Provider Access Grant)
We are pleased to announce that a variety of foods will soon be 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.
Launching Produce Purchasing Program in December
In the last newsletter, we shared that we were looking into implementing a partner produce purchasing program based on feedback from you. We are excited to announce that this additional produce will be available on Agency Express beginning in early December! We know fresh produce is a priority, and we will continue providing as much as possible at no cost within the parameters of our budget. Our limited budget does not allow for many of the highly preferred items reported through our neighbor preference surveys; accordingly, the goals of this partner produce purchasing program are to increase the variety we are able to offer, as well as provide lower costs for produce items that you might already be purchasing elsewhere (think of avocados, lemons, limes, tomatoes, jalapeños, broccoli, bananas, berries, etc.). This will in no way impact the produce you receive at no cost through our FRESH and Food Rescue programs; it is an optional add-on that will regularly be available to purchase via Agency Express like any other pantry staple you are already purchasing through us. Look out for a dedicated email blast about this program in late November, with a go-live date in early December. We look forward to hearing your feedback on the program as it rolls out, with the intent of improving it as we go based on your feedback.
Donated Petfood Available Thanks to PetSmart Charities
We were fortunate to recently secure three truckloads of donated pet food from PetSmart Charities. These items will be available on Agency Express at no cost while supplies last. We know that donated pet food can be very helpful to neighbors with pets. Please keep an eye out for the items when placing orders on Agency Express.
Partner Highlight
Thornton Community Center – Where Kids Go for Comfort and Nourishment
The after-school snack program at Thornton Community center started in the fall of 2017. The program was started because the kids would come into Thornton Community Center (TCC) saying, “Miss, I’m hungry.” As a mom and grandma, TCC’s manager, Vivian McVey, had to do something. As a Costco shopper, she would buy a box of four pizzas to feed the kids who came into the center. Some of the kids would come in right after school and not leave until TCC closed at 8:00 p.m.
After learning that Vivian was spending her own money on pizzas and snacks for the kids, her supervisor found out about the Child and Adult Care Food Program, offering after-school meals through Food Bank of the Rockies. Being able to offer a snack and fruit to kids in our community is a great feeling. It also makes the center have a welcoming feeling. Vivian wanted the kids to not worry about being hungry and to feel like a kid. Being able to offer a place of comfort, security, and food goes a long way.
From 2017 to 2022, TCC also ran a shower program, giving kids a chance to clean up after a long day. After their showers, they were greeted with snacks and fruit — a small but meaningful gesture of care and comfort that gave the children a sense of security and belonging. Vivian’s goal was always simple: she wanted the kids to feel good, happy, and cared for.
In August 2022, Thornton Community Center started a remodel and the meal program moved to The Spot at Thornton Community Building. There, the kids have been coming after school for a snack, arts and crafts, pool/billiards, and video games. The remodel is due for completion by the end of this year.
Every Tuesday, Vivian picks up the shelf-stable meal kits from Food Bank of the Rockies and visits the Fresh Food Center to pick up fresh fruit. When the kids get to The Spot after school, they act like Vivian went to the grocery store and ask to see inside the refrigerator so that they can see if there are any goodies. The kids look forward to hanging out at The Spot after school so they can enjoy fresh fruit and snacks.
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This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Click here for full USDA non-discrimination statement.
