Dear Hunger Relief Partners,
While the humble daisy has been adopted as a symbol for many ideas, our favorite is the notion of new beginnings.
As more and more people receive vaccines, we are increasingly hopeful for a return to normalcy, including in our future efforts. We have been seeing mask restrictions lift, businesses opening at full capacity, and promises of a return to face-to-face education for our children in the fall.
Yet, a return to normalcy is not enough for our neighbors facing hunger. Before the pandemic, we partnered with you to help people thrive. As need grew, we worked together to meet it. Now, as we welcome the season of summer with its promise of new beginnings, we look forward to continuing our efforts to equitably serve all populations in our region. Rest assured, we will continue our work to connect people to nourishing food and to support our community partners on the front lines with the resources they need.
Thank you for partnering with us,
Cindy Mitchell, Vice President of Programs
Food Bank of the Rockies Closures and Important Dates
Please check out the June Calendar for important information that will affect your orders and access to the Fresh Food Center for the end of June and early July.
Upcoming important dates:
- Saturday, June 19: Free EverGreen Box; 45th Avenue Distribution Center 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Thursday, June 24: Virtual Partner Orientation 9:00 a.m.
- Thursday, June 24: Link2Feed Training 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
- Thursday, June 24: Last day to order for June (pick-ups 6/28) until 3:00 p.m.
- Friday, June 25 - Thursday, July 1: No orders or Fresh Food Center pick-ups; Partner Express will reopen at 8:00 p.m. on July 1
- Monday, July 5: Food Bank of the Rockies is closed in observance of the Fourth of July holiday
View our 2021 Calendar for additional important dates.
New Partner Facebook Page
Visit our new Facebook page for our Hunger Relief Partners here.
Many of our partners have expressed an interest in receiving updates about partner resources through Facebook. We have set up a private Facebook group for partners to share the latest updates, important information, and to network with one another.
Visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/496945404778874/ and request to join.
COVID-19 Update: Mask Policy
Effective June 1, 2021, masks will be optional for indoor settings for vaccinated people.
People are considered fully vaccinated:
- Two weeks after the second dose in a two-dose series, such as Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
- Two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.
- Masks will continue to be required for unvaccinated people.
- Continue to practice good hygiene with frequent hand washing and avoiding touching the eyes, nose, and mouth.
After Your Visit
We take every precaution necessary to inform our staff and visitors of any potential risk associated with COVID-19.
To help prevent the spread, we ask that if you test positive for COVID-19 within 14 days of visiting any Food Bank of the Rockies’ locations, please contact a representative listed below:
Joshua Delong
Safety Compliance Manager
jdelong@foodbankrockies.org
Phone: 303-375-5854
Lorena Toland
Vice President of People and Culture
ltoland@foodbankrockies.org
Phone: 303-375-5858
Update: Public Policy and Advocacy
Food Bank of the Rockies coordinates all public policy and advocacy work through Feeding Colorado, the state association of the five Feeding America food banks that serve all of Colorado and Wyoming. While our federal policy priorities are determined by Feeding America, we recently finalized our first state policy agenda. In the coming months, there will be opportunities to engage with our public policy and advocacy work, including signing up for the Feeding Colorado advocacy newsletter, which will be launched later this year.
Please contact Effie Rorke, Senior Director of Public Policy & Communications at Feeding Colorado, with any questions: erorke@feedingcolorado.org.
April Partner Town Hall
Thank you to all partners who attended the Town Hall on Tuesday, April 20. The topic was “Post COVID: Returning to Client Choice.” Mission Hills Baptist Church-Life Center shared their shopping preferences menu. You can view the example here: FB Menu One Page.
If you were unable to attend, the Zoom session recording is included below. You can also view the slides.
View Zoom Recording
Passcode: W$MXG6$C
SAVE THE DATE: Next Quarterly Partner Town Hall
When: Thursday, July 29 at 11:00 a.m.
Subject: All About Food Sourcing
Learn about Food Bank of the Rockies’ Sourcing Department and the donated and purchased items we provide across all of our programs and distribution centers, including Partner Express, Food For Kids, the Culturally Responsive Food Initiative (CRFI), and more. Bring your questions, product requests, and curiosity.
Zoom link to be provided in the July newsletter. Please mark your calendar.
Ready to Implement Link2Feed?
Link2Feed is an online service insights tool that many of our Hunger Relief Partners utilize to track important data points. Food Bank of the Rockies provides free access to Link2Feed as well as training and roll-out support to all of our partners. To learn more, watch this video.
For more information on Link2Feed, please visit the Link2Feed YouTube page or email L2F@foodbankrockies.org.
RSVP to a training date that works best for your organization here: http://bit.ly/L2FRSVP.
Upcoming Link2Feed Training Dates:
- Thursday, June 24 from 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 14 from 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
If you would like to see Link2Feed in action, we will connect you with one of our partners or Mobile Pantries using the system.
Making the Most Out of Grant Funds with Food Bank of the Rockies
Does your agency have grant funding to spend on food or household items? Food Bank of the Rockies can be your go-to source for quality, low-cost items to fulfill grant requirements for:
- Nutritional snacks for kids
- Culturally responsive items
- Local foods
- Paper goods
- Sanitary supplies
- Other household items
Beyond items available on Partner Express, we also have collaborative purchasing options. Whether your agency is seeking a larger quantity of an item we already have on hand or you are developing a plan to stretch every grant dollar, we are here to help.
Please contact Hannah Moore at hmoore@foodbankrockies.org to learn more.
Update: Culturally Responsive Food Initiative
In May, we completed our pilot program for the Culturally Responsive Food Initiative (CRFI) and launched Phase 2. The goal of the initiative is to help our partners identify ways to become more culturally responsive through new food options, educational materials, and best practices.
During the pilot program, we collected feedback from 111 partners, 700 clients, and 12 community organizations through surveys, interviews, and focus groups. From this feedback, we developed suggested food lists for seven cultures for our sourcing department to use to inform ordering decisions.
Since the commencement of the pilot program, we have distributed over 700,000 pounds of culturally responsive food, increased the availability of culturally responsive foods in Partner Express by 15%, and supported 80 partners with food credits to obtain culturally responsive foods.
In Phase 2, we will roll out the initiative to our entire 53-county service network.
If you are interested in participating in the next phase of the initiative or receiving notifications about new education materials, webinars, or best practices guidance, contact crfi@foodbankrockies.org.
Partner Spotlight: Let Your Light Shine
In 2017, Ellen and Marc Kammerzell co-founded the nonprofit Let Your Light Shine with the mission of empowering individuals and families to move from homelessness to self-sufficiency by bridging the gap in resources available to residents in Brighton.
In addition to partnering with Food Bank of the Rockies to distribute food, Let Your Light Shine also provides clients with hygiene kits and has a program to help individuals gain self-sufficiency. Brighton families can sign up to receive gas cards, additional groceries, and participate in an educational series to learn how to prepare nutritious food.
Starting in June, Let Your Light Shine will transition from a drive-through model and mobile delivery system back to a standard pantry model.
Interested clients can make an appointment by calling 720-979-2322 or emailing lylshine2@gmail.com. The pantry is located at Northern Hills Church (5061 E 160th Ave., Brighton) and is open from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Food Bank of the Rockies is proud to partner with organizations like Let Your Light Shine.
Ethics, Ecology, and Economics Forum: Food Systems and Food Insecurity in Colorado
The Ethics, Ecology, and Economics (EEE) Forum provides a platform to discuss current public policy issues. This month, the forum addressed food systems and food insecurity in Colorado. The panel featured Julia Char Gilbert, Policy Analyst from the Colorado Health Institute; Wendy Moschetti, Director of Strategic Initiatives from Nourish Colorado; and Dr. Becca Jablonski, Food Systems Economist from Colorado State University. Their research provides insight into the importance of access to fresh, nutritious, and culturally relevant food as a public health priority, and details which local and national food distribution programs have seen the highest rates of success.
To learn more about the research conducted by the panelists, please visit:
For more information on the EEE Forum, visit https://eeeforum.org/
Food Access Seed Distribution Program
Food Bank of the Rockies is teaming up with Denver's Ekar Farm to pilot a seed distribution program in the Rocky Mountain region for the Spring 2022 growing season.
At the beginning of the pandemic, Ekar Farm, in collaboration with local organizations and the national Cooperative Gardens Commission, began distributing seed packets and growing information in Denver.
Now in its second season, Ekar Farm and Food Bank of the Rockies are looking to expand the program throughout the Rocky Mountain and Eastern Plains regions to support new and veteran gardeners alike.
To take part in this program or to offer feedback and advice on how it can best serve the communities you reach, please fill out this survey.
Client Resources
Home Fires: How to Protect Your Family & Home
Home fires are the nation’s most frequent disaster. The American Red Cross responds to a home fire every eight minutes across the country.
The Red Cross offers free preparedness education, smoke alarm installation, and family emergency communication and escape plans. For free home fire safety resources, visit the Red Cross website.
To sign up to have smoke alarms installed in your home, call 303-953-4780, follow the link www.surveymonkey.com/r/CoRedCross or scan the QR code provided below.
Inner City Health Center
Founded in 1983, Inner City Health Center is a Christ-centered healthcare home for underserved individuals, regardless of location or ability to pay. Medicaid, Medicare, and some private insurances are accepted.
There are two locations in the metro area: 3800 York St., Denver and 6301 W. 38th Ave., Wheat Ridge. Their medical team provides prenatal, pediatrics, women’s health, men’s health, and older adult health services. The dental clinic provides care for all ages (excluding implants and orthodontics). Mental and behavioral health clinicians are available at both locations.
Inner City Health Center is currently offering COVID vaccines on Saturdays, until the demand diminishes. Call 720-833-5033 (or 720-833-5001 for Spanish).
Food Bank of the Rockies: Join Our Team
Want to do good with good people? Working at Food Bank of the Rockies is more than “just a job.” We work daily to ignite the power of community to nourish people facing hunger. If working to alleviate hunger sounds like the way you would like to spend your day, apply for one of our open opportunities!
Food Bank of the Rockies is an equal opportunity employer and offers paid time off, health, dental, and 401K benefits.
Open Positions Spotlight: Culturally Responsive Food Initiative Representative
Food Bank of the Rockies is looking for a Denver-based Culturally Responsive Food Initiative Representative to join our team.
We are especially interested in hiring someone with lived experience. Please share this job description with your volunteers and clients.
Food Bank of the Rockies is an equal opportunity employer and offers paid time off, health, dental, and 401K benefits.
