The last four years have been a roller coaster for food banks and food pantries across the country, including Food Bank of the Rockies, and somehow the past year has arguably been the most challenging. What has changed? Remaining COVID-era federal relief funding tied to the American Rescue Plan is over, need is high, inflation persists, and the cost of doing business is now higher than pre-COVID. You can view a video message from me here about some of the challenges, changes, and opportunities. I outline the themes below as well.
In terms of federal funding, we project that we will receive around $7 million less over the next 12 months than we did during the previous 12 months due to the end of federal pandemic era emergency relief. I recognize these same factors are affecting your operations. As a result, we have a significant decrease in funding, and the funds we do have don’t go as far as they used to.
First, let me say that we’ve reviewed our fiscal year 2025 budget line by line and reduced every non-essential item we can, and we have taken steps to maximize our operational efficiency. Please know that we’re channeling every possible resource into food purchasing and increasing food donations to prioritize our work with you.
What does this mean for you? The financial realities of the post-COVID era mean that we have had to make some difficult decisions. We are going to have to limit the amount of produce we distribute through our FRESH program and Totes of Hope™ and also reduce the amount of emergency-relief food bags we distribute. While we were forced to cut our fresh produce budget by 40% this year, we’re grateful that, due to fundraising, we’ll still be distributing 4x more produce to our Hunger Relief Partners than pre-COVID.
Although we cannot say for sure whether there will be more changes to our food distribution volume and plans in the future, serving our neighbors, in collaboration with you — our Hunger Relief Partners — is our core purpose.
We are grateful that fundraising is allowing us to continue to waive agency support fees this year, fees we did away with four years ago after hearing from you. We appreciate that this is an immensely challenging time to be in hunger relief, and we want to be a resource and collaborate on solutions together. If you’d like to discuss ideas on how we can navigate this together, please reach out to our partner relations team at jilldavis@foodbankrockies.org. We are sincerely grateful for the work you do and our partnership with you!
For a more detailed message, please check out my video message about these recent challenges.
With Gratitude,
Erin Pulling
President & CEO
Food Bank of the Rockies
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
Feeding Colorado is 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 (Gregory) Mason at sgregory@feedingcolorado.org.
Candidate Forums
Feeding Colorado is partnering with the Blueprint to End Hunger Colorado to host forums for candidates in key congressional districts. Stay tuned for invites to those webinars and recordings.
Map the Meal Gap
Feeding America’s recently released Map the Meal Gap Study is the only national study to provide county-level estimates of food insecurity and food costs. This powerful tool shows that 670,000 Coloradans do not have access to enough food to lead an active, full life. Learn more and see the tool here.
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.
Sourcing Updates
Thanksgiving and Holiday Foods
A limited number of frozen turkeys will be available to bulk order via Ceres during the holiday season. We will continue sourcing and distributing other high-demand holiday items like stuffing mix, cranberry sauce, celery, carrots, canned green beans, corn husks, masa flour, and more.
Program Updates
Government Programs
TEFAP Updates
All TEFAP agencies are now required to display the Written Notice of Beneficiary Rights at their pantries, regardless of whether or not the agency has a religious affiliation. If you have not already done so, please print a copy of the Written Notice of Beneficiary Rights and display it in a neighbor-facing area.
Food for Kids Update
2024-2025 School Year – Help Nourish Children After School. Apply Today!
If you missed the July 24 deadline, don’t worry! We are still accepting applications for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). It just means that we can’t guarantee your location will start with the beginning of the school year. CACFP offers nutritious meals for your afterschool program in areas where 50% or more of the children are eligible for free/reduced meals. This program is offered at no cost to our partners, and we provide all training and supplies needed for meal service. Please remember the important following updates:
- Any applications received after July 24 may not be able to begin until after school has started.
- Required training must be completed at least two weeks prior to your desired start date. Delay in this may also cause a delay in your start date.
You can find the CACFP application here.
If you are interested in applying for CACFP or have any other questions, please email FFK@foodbankrockies.org and someone on the Food for Kids team will be in touch with you!
CRFI Update
September 11: Ethiopian New Year
FOOD: Chicken stew, injera (teff-flour flat bread), coffee, chicken, minced beef, liver, lamb
September 15 – 16: Mawlid – Observed by Muslim-majority countries with the exception of Salafi states.
FOOD: Sweets are the focus, but the specific pastry or cake vary from country to country.
September 17: Asian Mid-Autumn Harvest / Moon Festival – The food and customs vary depending on the Asian countries; what holds true is the common essence in celebrating reuniting with family while gazing at the full moon.
FOOD: pomelo, moon cakes, chestnuts, walnuts, persimmons, crab, duck, etc.
September 27: Meskel – Ethiopia & Eritrea Christian celebration of discovery of the True Cross
FOOD: After a long period of vegetarian diet, protein will be a welcomed and a prioritized ingredient; also flat bread (injera) and green coffee beans to be roasted and served ceremonially.
September: National Hispanic Heritage Month
September 28 & 29: The Denver American Indian Festival
Annual event with 81 tribal representatives and 20,000+ residents
Partner Highlight
Since 1991, Clifton Christian Church Food Bank (CCCFB) has been a steadfast partner with Food Bank of the Rockies, and over the years, they have grown into a large and very impactful hunger-relief organization. Their recent facility expansion, completed in late October 2023, marks a new chapter in their service to the community.
CCCFB’s commitment to creating spaces that foster connection and dignity shines through the newly constructed walk-through pantry areas. Neighbors now have the choice to come in and shop at their own pace or use the drive-through option, ensuring everyone finds the comfort and freedom they need during their visit. This thoughtful design reflects the pantry’s dedication to meeting people where they are, both physically and emotionally.
The expansion also allowed CCCFB to significantly broaden its offerings. Alongside the essential staples, they now provide pet food, diapers, fresh produce, and frozen meats. But their care goes beyond just food; each neighbor is welcomed with the opportunity to take home a bible, alongside a heartfelt invitation to return.
CCCFB’s journey from a small, congregation-supported initiative to a powerhouse in our network is nothing short of inspiring. In 2023 alone, they supported nearly a million meals through over 64,000 visits. This incredible achievement was made possible through their weekday pantry, Food Bank of the Rockies’ monthly mobile pantry, and holiday boxes, all carefully designed to reach as many neighbors in need as possible.
The Clifton Christian Church’s campus has long been the location for a mobile pantry held on every fourth Saturday of every month, and it has become the largest of its kind on the Western Slope. Run entirely by dedicated volunteers, many of whom have been with the pantry for years, this distribution serves upwards of 400 neighbors, rain or shine. The dedication of these volunteers is truly the heart of this operation, and their passion shines through in every interaction.
We are incredibly proud of Clifton Christian Church Food Bank’s growth and their unwavering commitment to their community. Watching them in action is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved through collaboration, compassion, and dedication. They are not just our partners — they are leaders, and we are honored to stand beside them in our work to end hunger.
Staff Highlight
This month, we’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on Becky Richardson, a front-line member of our Food Bank of the Rockies Western Slope team. Many of you know Becky as the “Chaos Coordinator,” problem solver, and answerer of all partner distribution questions (and more). Her job title is actually the Programs Distribution Coordinator and she is the link between partner programs and our operations team. It’s a big job with lots of moving parts! She has been part of our Western Slope team for over three years, bringing her warmth, dedication, and an incredible knack for connecting with you, our Hunger Relief Partners.
Becky made her way to the Grand Valley in the summer of 2001, and she’s been putting down roots — quite literally — ever since. With two amazing kids, Becky is navigating the bittersweet journey of one recently relocating to a new state while the other is gearing up to graduate this year. But her family extends beyond the humans in her life; Becky is also a devoted mom to two dogs and five cats, all of whom have their own stories of rescue and adventure. From feral kittens found under a neighbor’s shed to others abandoned in a woodpile, Becky’s heart for animals is as big as her love for customer service.
When she’s not caring for her furry friends, you can find Becky indulging in her many hobbies. She’s got a green thumb for unique succulents, a creative streak for needle felting, and an eye for photography. Whether Becky is exploring the mountains or taking a peaceful drive to hike in the desert with her dogs, she is always embracing the beauty of the outdoors. And let’s not forget her love of baking, which she describes as “edible therapy” that not only treats her loved ones but also feeds her soul.
Before joining Food Bank of the Rockies, Becky spent nearly five years as a preschool teacher at faith-based centers, a role she treasures deeply. Her earlier days were spent as a stay-at-home parent, managing a hobby farm, and volunteering at her kids’ school.
Becky’s favorite part of working with our Hunger Relief Partners? Hearing the unique stories of how they care for their neighbors. It’s these moments of connection that truly lift her heart and remind us all why we do what we do. Thank you, Becky, for bringing your passion, empathy, and endless creativity to our team!
Neighbor Resources
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