I love fall in Colorado. Having lived in other states like Florida and Georgia, which were hot and muggy, I appreciate our milder climate and cooler nights. I also am very thankful for the mountains where one can find respite from the hotter temperatures and, now, beautiful fall colors. Fall is also a time for gatherings that bring us together with friends and family. Many of these events center on food, which brings to mind the importance of our collective work to help people facing food insecurity.
I have recently been able to spend quality time with a newly arrived family that is currently underemployed, and an older couple that is facing major health challenges and the associated high costs. Both families were very thankful for the assistance they received from Food Bank of the Rockies and our partners. Together, we make a significant difference for our neighbors in need, and your hard work to care for others is appreciated.
It takes passion and fortitude to keep going in this work, and I hope you can find time to refresh yourself so that you are ready to continue with this important work as the fall season brings both harvest and holidays.
Steve Kullberg
Chief of Staff
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! 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 and pantries across the state this fall. If you’re interested in hosting your local legislator at your food distribution, contact Sarah at sgregory@feedingcolorado.org.
Feeding Colorado Presentations
Would you like to have Feeding Colorado staff present to your agency or local coalition on our role, state priorities, and how to get involved? If so, please reach out to Mandy Nuku at mnuku@feedingcolorado.org to schedule.
Program Updates
Welcome Monica Buhlig – New Chief Programs Officer
On August 26, Food Bank of the Rockies welcomed Monica Buhlig as our new Chief Programs Officer.
Monica Buhlig, MPH, has more than 20 years of experience focused on creating communities in which people face no barriers to health and thriving. She has worked in healthcare, public health, local government, and philanthropy. Monica has consistently forged partnerships to advance the social determinants of health, including leading the integration of the first food-security screening within a health system in Colorado. Monica holds a Master of Public Health from San Diego State University and is both a Bighorn and RIHEL Fellow. Monica is a proud mother of two children and enjoys being active outdoors, exploring new communities as often as possible, and loves gardening and the produce it yields.
Partner Support
Find Food Page Update
Is your organization correctly listed on the Find Food page, our pantry locator tool? This resource allows neighbors seeking food assistance to locate and visit Hunger Relief Partners.
However, this tool only works when the information listed is current! Please take a moment to review your listing on the Find Food page. Doing this may save people seeking food assistance the frustration of visiting a site at the wrong time or at an outdated address.
To submit updates for your listing (or to add your site to the page), please fill out this form and email it to partnersupport@foodbankrockies.org.
Government Programs
TEFAP Updates
An updated version of the Written Notice of Beneficiary Rights was distributed via email on August 7. This document is now required to be posted by every TEFAP agency in a client-facing area in both English and Spanish, regardless of the organization’s religious affiliation. Please ensure this is done.
Another addition to the required documents for Partners that do digital intake (aka Link 2 Feed) is the TEFAP L2F Information Disclosure document. This is to be posted in both Spanish and English. Look for these flyers in a separate email sent from Jill Davis on 9/23. We have also sent laminated copies attached to your invoices for your convenience.
If you have questions regarding TEFAP, please email Vic Derington at vderington@foodbankrockies.org or Jill Davis at jilldavis@foodbankrockies.org.
Culturally Responsive Food Initiative Update
Emergency Relief Bag Program
For the past year we have been running a pilot program in which we compiled Emergency Relief Bags for walk-ins in need of urgent hunger relief while awaiting a pantry appointment, and for people with limited cooking or storage facilities. The bags consist of 7-10 shelf-stable items providing approximately 1,000 calories (half a day’s recommended calories) per individual.
The Emergency Relief Bags are now available to all Hunger Relief Partners to order at-cost on Partner Express. They are available in cases of five bags each. The case costs fluctuate slightly with each bagging cycle due to the different components that may be used. Our average case cost for all relief bags built is currently $22.18, which equates to $4.46 a bag.
If you have questions or feedback about emergency relief bags, please reach out to CRFI@foodbankrockies.org
Training Opportunity
Are you interested in bringing trauma-informed practices to your food distributions? The MANNA Food Bank of Western North Carolina, in partnership with Leah’s Pantry, developed a video series focused on ways to promote and build trust, resilience, and understanding among staff, volunteers, and communities. You can access the video series here.
As a reminder, Food Bank of the Rockies’ Building Belonging: Best Practices for Inclusive Pantries online course is available on NeoGov. Partners who complete the course receive access to the Partner Resource Library, which includes equipment such as iPads and translation devices available to rent at no cost. You can find more information here.
Please reach out to CRFI@foodbankrockies.org with any questions!
Sourcing Updates
Holiday Items
We are gearing up to supply you for the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. This year we will again carry the following items: stuffing mix, instant potatoes, cranberry sauce, corn muffin mix, canned sweet potatoes, gravy, canned green beans, canned corn, cream of mushroom soup, celery, carrots, and potatoes. We will have a very limited amount of frozen turkeys this year. The decision not to carry a large quantity of frozen turkeys was driven by our inability to beat grocery retail prices as retailers often sell turkeys below cost to drive store traffic.
We will also be ready to support the culturally relevant holidays of Navidad, Lunar New Year, and Ramadan. For those holidays we will have the following items available: corn husks, dates, peanuts, cashews, almonds, pistachios, and banana leaves.
New Kid-Friendly Snack Items for Backpack Programs & Everyday Needs
We are pleased to announce that we have widened our assortment of kid-friendly snack items for everyday needs and backpack programs. Based on input from partners, we have discontinued several less popular items and started to carry a wider array of quality offerings. We intend to maintain this wider assortment, rotating items based on opportunity buys and partner feedback. Please be sure to search for snack items when ordering in Partner Express. Below are some of new items we are excited to make available.
- Chewy Granola bars
- Oatmeal bars
- Meat snack sticks
- Welch’s Fruit Snacks
- Animal crackers
- Veggie crackers
Neighbor Resources
Encourage completion of school benefits form
Even with Colorado’s Healthy School Meals for All program, it’s still important for families to fill out their child’s school benefits form or application. Whether it’s called school, meal, community, or educational benefits, submission of the single-page form supports students and their families, school funding, and local communities.
New Partner Highlight
Church of Destiny
We are thrilled to shine a spotlight on one of our incredible new partners, Church of Destiny in Craig, Colorado. Since joining Food Bank of the Rockies’ team of partners in mid-June 2024, they have been making a meaningful impact in their community.
For years, Church of Destiny has been a cornerstone of support for its neighbors, and with the addition of our hunger relief programs, their outreach has grown even stronger. Their pantry, open every Monday, is a beacon of hope for community members in need of nutritious food. Each week, Hugo and Paige Quezada, along with their dedicated team of volunteers, welcome everyone with open arms and big hearts. Their pantry is a model of efficiency, where their volunteers work in perfect harmony to ensure everything runs smoothly.
We are deeply grateful for the work they are doing and excited to partner with them as they continue to serve their community. Welcome, Church of Destiny, to our growing network of Hunger Relief Partners — we look forward to all the good we will accomplish together!
Staff Highlight
Olivia VanGundy
This month, we are excited to highlight Olivia Van Gundy, whose creativity and passion for people shine through in everything she does at Food Bank of the Rockies. Born and raised in Grand Junction, Olivia brings a diverse background to her role, with experiences ranging from newspaper editorial work to customer service, and even interning with Young Life’s Asia Pacific outreach. Her journey is reflected in the professional and meaningful events she curates, from open houses and civic gatherings to family nights and special donor events.
Olivia chose to work at Food Bank of the Rockies after learning about the Culturally Responsive Food Initiative, recognizing its mission of bringing familiar, nutritious food to people as something she could fully rally behind. Her passion for people, along with her knack for details and bringing communities together, make her an invaluable part of our team. Whether she’s organizing a volunteer night or crafting a special event, her care and attention ensure every gathering is not only smooth but also deeply impactful.
Outside of work, Olivia loves traveling — Japan being a favorite destination — and believes food is a wonderful gateway to learning about different cultures. She also enjoys creative pursuits like dancing, playing the piano, and videography.
We’re grateful to have Olivia’s vibrant energy and passion shaping experiences at Food Bank of the Rockies!
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This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Click here for full USDA non-discrimination statement.
