Dear Hunger Relief Partners,

We are officially in August, which means the end of summer is just around the corner. For many families, this time of year is especially busy—and expensive. Those with kids are back-to-school shopping and paying annual school and sports fees. That can add up quickly, especially for families with multiple children.

Last week while I was at my local Target, there was a young woman getting school supplies. I said to her, “How fun it is to shop for college, I miss that!” She responded, “No, I’m actually shopping for a second grader who is receiving support from a local program. I signed up to be her host. It’s fun to shop and get her stocked up for school with all this fresh gear!”

For me, this was a reminder that there are so many amazing people out there. Regardless of circumstance, we all strive to help others in whatever way we can. I have been blessed to be an essential worker this past year, but will admit that there were some days when I thought about how nice it would be to stay home and relax. However, when I focus on the need present in our community, I remember that I, like all of you, have an incredible opportunity to give back in so many ways.

Remember: Your efforts don’t go unnoticed. We are so grateful and thankful for each and every one of you.

Maria Esparza,
Programs’ Community & Outreach Director

Important Dates

• Saturday, August 14: Open for partner pickups 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
• Saturday, August 21: Free EverGreen Boxes™, 45th Avenue Distribution Center
• 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
• Thursday, August 26: Link2Feed Training (virtual and in-person options)
• 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
  Tuesday, August 31: Deadline to complete recertifications for Food Safety and
• Civil Rights trainings

For important dates that will affect orders and warehouse access, please refer to our annual calendar.

If you have any questions, please contact our Partner Support team: partnersupport@foodbankrockies.org

Apply now for CACFP After-School Meals

Food Bank of the Rockies is currently accepting applications for the 2021-2022 After School Meal Program (CACFP). This program offers an assortment of nourishing food items for qualified neighborhoods and programs. If your organization provides after-school activities and programs for children aged 18 years and younger, consider applying to CACFP to support your nutritional offerings. Partners can choose between fresh grab-n-go and shelf-stable meals, or distributing multiple meals at once. Interested partners must complete an application. Training will be provided by Food Bank of the Rockies.

For questions, contact Eva Knezic: 303-375-5862 or eknezic@foodbankrockies.org.

Download the CACFP Application: 2021-2022-CACFP-Application-with-agreement.pdf

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: Recertification Due by August 31: Food Safety and Civil Rights Trainings

The Food Safety and Civil Rights courses are available online at no charge through Food Bank of the Rockies’ Online University. Completion of these courses is required annually for all active partners of Food Bank of the Rockies across all of our programs. After you have completed the training, you will need a score of 80% on the test to pass and be compliant. There is no need to send us a copy of your score; we have access to the names of all with passing scores.

For instructions and to complete the required courses, visit 2021-Instructions-for-Food-Safety-Civil-Rights-for-Partner-Agency.pdf.

If you have questions, please contact partnersupport@foodbankrockies.org

FRESH Program Update

Many of you are taking advantage of our new FRESH produce program, which has a goal of providing 1.2 million pounds of fresh produce to our partners each month. We heard how much your guests liked the fresh produce in the Farmers to Families Food Boxes, and we have subsequently developed a new system to get a variety of fresh products to as many partners as possible each week in a variety of ways, trying to meet your needs with appropriate quantities and timing. Through FRESH, you can get:

• Full pallets of a single variety
• Mixed pallets with 4-5 different varieties
• Individual cases on Partner Express
• Produce chosen from our Fresh Food Center

As with most new ventures, FRESH has presented a number of challenges as it requires us to move very quickly to get the right produce to you in optimal quality. The intense heat has been challenging, and we apologize for some misses as we are developing and fine-tuning processes. Please be patient with us and know that we are committed to getting you the highest possible quality and variety of FRESH produce.

Contact us at partnersupport@foodbankrockies.org if you have questions about FRESH.

Meet the New Members of the Programs Team

We are excited to welcome three new members to the Programs Team at the 45th Avenue Distribution Center.

Cady Diener is a native Coloradan who loves exploring the great outdoors and spending time with her tuxedo cat, Chomsky.

Direct contact: 303-375-5818; cdiener@foodbankrockies.org

Kaila Green is a familiar face to Food Bank of the Rockies, having worked with our rebrand launch and at mobile pantries on the Western Slope. Kaila just rescued a puppy, Koda, and loves hiking and running.

Direct contact: 303-375-5815; kagreen@foodbankrockies.org

Cady and Kaila will be working to guarantee quality service for our Hunger Relief Partners and ensuring partner compliance. Please say hello to Cady and Kaila the next time you visit Partner Support or meet them at a site visit. The entire Partner Support Team can be reached through this email: partnersupport@foodbankrockies.org

Also joining our Programs Team as the new Food For Kids Administrative Supervisor is Eva Knezic. Eva will be working directly with our after-school and summer meals sites and Totes of Hope partners.

Eva recently moved to Denver from Minneapolis, MN, and is having fun exploring the mountains. In her free time, she likes to cook, bike, and relax with a book.

Direct contact: 303-375-5862; eknezic@foodbankrockies.org

Link2Feed Trainings

Switching from a familiar client intake system to a new one can be a large change for an organization. We have asked our current Link2Feed partners to share why they are glad they made the switch to Link2Feed.

“There are also many cool features already in place and Link2Feed rapidly adjusts to needs and produces improvements we could not even imagine. The Quick Click, bar code scanner, and CNCT features are just some of the functionalities that allow us to improve service, greatly reduce paperwork, and better serve more clients.” Heidi Andrews, Jewish Family Service of Colorado

“Link2Feed has improved our record keeping immensely. We can enter clients into the site and access many reports that help us know how we are doing and if we are reaching people in our area.” Mary Kennedy, Good Shepherd Food Bank

To RSVP to an upcoming Link2Feed training, sign up here.

Join the New Partner Facebook Group Page

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. Click here and request to join.

Quarterly Town Hall

Thank you to everyone who attended our quarterly Town Hall meeting on July 29. If you missed this informative meeting about what our sourcing team does, you can view it here: https://youtu.be/lFCPH-Pxh3Y

We have also attached the presentation deck. If you have any questions about the products we currently source or those you would like us to source, please reach out to partnersupport@foodbankrockies.org

Download the presentation deck: Sourcing_Town_Hall_Presentation_2021.pdf

Our next Town Hall will be in October. Stay tuned for date, topic, and Zoom information. If you have a topic you would like us to consider for a future Town Hall, please drop us a line at partnersupport@foodbankrockies.org

Safety and Food Safety Reminder

A quick reminder about food and occupational safety rules in the warehouse:

• Do not wear earbuds or headphones in the warehouse areas.
• Pedestrians share aisles with equipment, so alertness and unencumbered senses are imperative.
• A single earpiece connected to a walkie-talkie is the only exception.
• Do not use any tobacco or nicotine products inside the building.
• This includes cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and vaping products.
• Limit tobacco use to the designated, outdoor smoking areas.
• Do not consume any food items or beverages in warehouse areas other than water in sealed containers.

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 Position Spotlight: Food For Kids Representative

Our Food For Kids team is searching for someone who can support and assist in operational and logistical functions related to the activities of our direct-service programs for children 18 years of age and younger. This individual will be responsible for identifying potential organizations serving children, recruitment, and selection of Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sites to reduce child hunger by closing the meal gap. For the full job description, please visit this link.

Client Resources

Child Tax Credit Toolkit

A key part of the American Rescue Plan Act, which President Biden signed into law in March, is the advance disbursement of Child Tax Credit (CTC) payments. The IRS has issued information and guidance regarding the advance monthly CTC for the months of July through December 2021, including how eligible families can sign up if they have not automatically received a notification or the first of the scheduled payments. These advance monthly payments started July 15, 2021. In order to ensure that all eligible families are benefiting from this credit, please help spread the word by reviewing this toolkit.

Download the child tax credit flyer: DocServer/Child_Tax_Credit_Flyer.pdf

Rental Assistance Toolkit

On July 31, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) eviction moratorium ended, creating uncertainty and instability for many renters. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has compiled a resource toolkit for agencies. The toolkit contains flyers, social media templates, and resources links to easily share information with clients.

Download the rental assistance flyer: Rental_Assistance_Help_Flyer.pdf | Rental_Assistance_Help_Flyer__Spanish_.pdf