Dear Hunger Relief Partners,
The time is almost here: Our long-anticipated move into our new distribution center is right around the corner! We are so excited to share this milestone with you, and even more excited about the ways this facility will allow us to better serve our neighbors together.
The address of the new facility is 20600 E. 38th Ave., Aurora, CO 80019
(Please view our moving schedule below)
There is a lot of information included in this newsletter to help you start planning for the phases of our move in November and December. We recognize that a transition of this size can bring challenges as well as opportunities. Please know that we are committed to making this move go as smoothly as possible by sharing updates, orientation materials, and opportunities to ask questions with you along the way.
We’d also love for you to be among the first to see the new facility in person. The first partner hard-hat tours are now open for registration, and we encourage you to join us for this special preview of the spaces that will soon support our shared work.
We welcome your feedback as we navigate this transition together. If there are specific resources, details, or support opportunities that would be helpful to you and your team, please let us know. Your input will help us ensure this transition works well for everyone. Please continue to send questions, concerns, and comments to partnersolutions@foodbankrockies.org.
Thank you for your continued partnership and for the vital work you do every day. We are grateful to step into this next chapter with you.
Warmly,
Ashley Newell
Director of Community Building and Food Systems
Important Dates
Closures
- Wednesday, November 26: Food Bank of the Rockies is open until 11:00 a.m. for order pick-ups and Fresh Food Center
- Thursday, November 27: Food Bank of the Rockies is closed for Thanksgiving; no order pick-ups or Fresh Food Center
- Friday, November 28: Food Bank of the Rockies is closed for Thanksgiving; no order pick-ups or Fresh Food Center
Ordering Date Changes
- Tuesday, November 25: Place an order on this day before 3:00 p.m. to pick up your order on Monday, December 1
- Wednesday, November 26: Place an order on this day before 3:00 p.m. to pick up your order on Tuesday, December 2
Hunger Relief Partner Orientations
- Tuesday, November 11, 10:00 a.m. – Hunger Relief Partner Orientation (virtual)
- Wednesday, November 19, 10:00 a.m. – Hunger Relief Partner Orientation (in-person tour + orientation)
- Thursday, November 20, 1:00 p.m. – Hunger Relief Partner Orientation (virtual)
To sign up for orientation or for questions about any of the dates above, contact partnersolutions@foodbankrockies.org. For our full, detailed calendars, please click here.
New Distribution Center
Tour Invitation: Welcome to Our New Distribution Center
We’re excited to invite you to a hard hat tour of our new distribution center, located at 20600 E. 38th Ave., Aurora, CO 80019, opening this winter! This special preview is an opportunity to see the bigger vision behind the building and learn more about how it will enhance our collective mission and strengthen our partnership.
During the tour, you’ll get a first look at the warehouse, volunteer and community spaces, kitchen, and more. Please note: This is NOT an orientation for food order pick-ups, but rather a chance to experience how this new facility is designed to support and elevate our work.
- Monday, October 20 – 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 21 – 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
- Thursday, October 23 – 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
- Friday, October 24 – 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
- Tuesday, October 28 –1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
- Thursday, November 6 – 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
Additional Upcoming Resources
- Materials: We will be publishing orientation materials for the new facility before the first day of food pick-ups at the new building.
- Special Edition Town Hall Meetings: Our Partner Solutions team will be hosting virtual sessions to share updates and special dates and provide partners with an opportunity to ask questions. Here are the Town Hall dates, times, and meeting links:
- Wednesday, October 29 – 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
- Join the meeting
- Meeting ID: 259 277 567 752 6
- Passcode: Fp2Z2Bk7
- Join the meeting
- Tuesday, November 11 – 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
- Join the meeting
- Meeting ID: 211 049 427 717 7
- Passcode: tL2DW752
- Join the meeting
- Thursday, December 4 – 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
- Join the meeting
- Meeting ID: 235 134 850 770
- Passcode: Pc6DF33K
- Join the meeting
- Wednesday, October 29 – 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Move Schedule
There are two dates on which Hunger Relief Partners will transition from picking up food at our current facilities to picking up at the new facility. Click here to download the move schedule as a PDF.
The address of the new facility is 20600 E. 38th Ave., Aurora, CO 80019.
Hunger Relief Partners participating in TEFAP
- Friday, November 21 – Last day of TEFAP pick-ups from Nome location
- Monday, November 24, to Friday, November 28 – No TEFAP pick-ups
- Monday, December 1, to Friday, December 9 – All TEFAP orders picked up from new building; non-TEFAP orders will be collected at the current building on 45th Avenue
- Wednesday, December 10, to Monday, December 15 – All TEFAP orders picked up at new building. No non-TEFAP pick-ups at any location.
- Monday, December 16 – All pick-ups at the new building
Hunger Relief Partners participating in CACFP After-School Meals
- Wednesday, December 10, to Friday, December 12 – Kitchen is closed. Hot and fresh meals will not be available. There are two options for these dates:
- Shelf-Stable Meals – To receive shelf-stable meals, please order by Friday, November 14, by emailing FFK@foodbankrockies.org. These meals can be picked up on Tuesday, December 9, from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at the 45th Avenue Distribution Center.
- No Meals – Partners who do not submit their request for shelf-stable meals prior to November 14 will have no access to meals from December 10-12.
- Tuesday, December 16 – Pick-up orders available at the new facility
- Monday, December 22-Friday, January 2 – Kitchen is closed
- Monday, January 5 – Fresh and hot meal pick-ups will resume at new facility
- Tuesday, January 6 – Shelf-stable meal pick-ups resume at new facility
All Other Hunger Relief Partners Who Pick Up Orders
- Thursday, November 27-Friday, November 28 – Closed for Thanksgiving
- Tuesday, December 9 – Last day of Agency Express Order Pick-up and Fresh Food Center at 45th Avenue Distribution Center
- Wednesday, December 10-Friday, December 15 – No order pick-ups (TEFAP pick-up continues at new facility)
- Wednesday, December 10-Monday, December 15 – Fresh Food Center closed
- Tuesday, December 16 – First food pick-ups at new facility
- Tuesday, December 16 – Fresh Food Center reopens at new facility
Hunger Relief Partners who receive deliveries
- Friday, December 5 – Place orders for December 10-11
- Monday, December 8 – Place orders for December 12, 15, and 16. Refrigerated items and produce may be limited.
- Wednesday, December 10-Friday, December 12 – Reduced deliveries. You will be contacted if your delivery is affected.
FRESH
- December 8-Decemeber 12 – FRESH items may be limited
- December 15 – FRESH deliveries will resume as normal. Please reach out to partnersolutions@foodbankrockies.org with any questions.
Feeding Colorado Advocacy/Policy Update
Feeding Colorado is the state association of the five Feeding America food banks serving all of Colorado and Wyoming.
Governor Visit
Governor Jared Polis recently visited Food Bank of the Rockies’ Western Slope facility to learn more about food insecurity in the region and to sign a Hunger Action Day proclamation. September is Hunger Action Month, an annual national campaign dedicated to raising awareness around food insecurity and promoting solutions to address it. Every action counts, whether it’s donating funds, volunteering, or advocating. We look forward to continued work with Governor Polis and Colorado and Wyoming lawmakers to address hunger across our service area.
Government Shut Down
As of October 1, the U.S. government is officially shut down because a new budget has not yet been approved.
For now, Food Bank of the Rockies is continuing normal operations, and our hunger-relief programs that are federally funded will also continue as normal through October. If the shutdown continues, we anticipate increased demand — especially from federal workers missing paychecks and, later, from families impacted by disruptions to nutrition programs like SNAP and WIC. We are actively developing a response plan for this possibility.
Collectively, we have a strong hunger relief network to support neighbors. The Find Food tool can support neighbors seeking food from any of our hunger relief partners.
We commit to updating you as we learn more regarding how the federal shutdown and other policy changes will affect each of us as a network of partners committed to nourishing neighbors experiencing hunger.
Healthy School Meals for All: Propositions LL and MM
This year, you will see Propositions LL and MM on the ballot, which are designed to address child hunger and nutrition. As a Hunger Relief Partner, we recognize the importance of you being aware of these propositions, which are designed to address hunger in your community. Please see the information below about each proposition.
In 2022, Colorado voters made our state a national leader in child nutrition through the passage of Proposition FF: Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA). HSMA allows schools participating in the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs to offer breakfast and lunch to students at no cost and invests in quality local food, technical assistance to support schools in providing more from-scratch meals, and higher wages for cafeteria workers.
In the first year of Healthy School Meals for All, 100% of eligible districts opted in to the program, and meal participation increased over 30% statewide. HSMA made a measurable difference in reducing stigma and ensuring students get their nutritional needs met, while easing the financial burden on families statewide. HSMA participation has been higher than expected, with a 36% increase in school breakfasts and 31% increase in school lunches, demonstrating the popularity and effectiveness of the program.
Proposition LL will allow Colorado to keep money that has already been raised for Healthy School Meals for All. Proposition MM continues free school meals beyond this school year, while also increasing wages for front-line school nutrition professionals, training and equipping schools to use fresh ingredients, instead of processed products, and funding schools to purchase ingredients from Colorado farmers and ranchers. After Healthy School Meals for All is fully funded, Proposition MM will also support SNAP, a program that helps 300,000 Colorado families afford groceries each month, after millions of dollars in federal cuts.
Information about these Propositions are in the Colorado Blue Book and on the web site,
HOME | Healthy School Meals For All.
Advocacy List
Joining the Feeding Colorado advocacy list is a great way to stay up to date on opportunities to make your voice heard and to protect and strengthen our important nutrition assistance programs! Visit our advocacy page to sign up for our advocacy alerts.
You can also follow along on our priorities and what we’ve been doing on our website and social media accounts:
Program Updates
Community Connections
Get to Know You Visits with Hunger Relief Partners
The Community Connections team is scheduling “get to know you” visits with every Hunger Relief Partner so we can better understand the unique ways each of you provide food assistance to your communities. Please do not hesitate to contact partnersolutions@foodbankrockies.org to be connected with your Community Connector to schedule your visit!
Proclamation from City Council – Southwest Food Coalition
Last month, the Southwest Food Coalition received an exciting Proclamation from City Council recognizing September as Hunger Action Month. to watch this impactful moment of city council members sharing their own stories of food insecurity and uplifting their commitment to prioritize hunger-relief services. The proclamation starts at 34 minutes and 40 seconds; Ken Knoblock from Southwest Food Coalition’s speech begins 47 minutes into the video. Please share this proclamation and encourage your networks to donate and volunteer.
Find Food Map through Vivery
Have you heard of our new Find Food Map, through Vivery? This tool supports neighbors seeking food assistance to find options near them. This August, 24,593 Find Food Map searches took place from neighbors seeking food assistance on Food Bank of the Rockies’ Find Food Map (up from 23,883 searches in July).
With our updated Find Food Map, Hunger Relief Partners can claim and take control of their listings.
There are many benefits to using your free Vivery Find Food account:
- A profile on the Find Food Map: Update it regularly to share accurate information about your organization, including hours, programs, and more.
- A free, professional website for your agency: Turn your Vivery profile into a sleek website with just a few clicks.
To claim your profile, please reach out to Partner Solutions at partnersolutions@foodbankrockies.org.
Of all public-facing Hunger Relief Partners, 45% have already claimed their profiles! When every Hunger Relief Partner claims their profile, neighbors can more easily navigate the hunger relief network, finding food and resources when and where they need them. By keeping your profile updated, you’re not only sharing information about your own services, you’re also strengthening the network as a whole, helping ensure our communities are served in the most connected and effective way possible.
The Hub Mini Market – Far Northeast Community Hub’s Find Food listing, after claiming their profile through Vivery.
Government Programs
Looking to connect neighbors with additional resources? The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is here to help!
Use the TEFAP Contact List to discover local distribution sites and refer neighbors to locations offering nutritious food across Colorado. Click to access the TEFAP Contact List
Not sure who qualifies to receive TEFAP? Here are the eligibility guidelines to help you determine who can receive assistance:
Community-Centered Innovation Update
Partner Spotlight: Sharing with Sheridan
We’re thrilled to celebrate Sharing with Sheridan, who recently completed the full Building Belonging Program! Their team took part in the online training and carried out the Community Food Preference Survey across four of their weekly Thursday drive-through pantry distributions.
Sharing with Sheridan serves upwards of 400 families each month. Their surveys collected 120 responses from the neighbors they support, a powerful step toward making sure their pantry offerings reflect the foods their community members want and need most. As part of the survey, one of their neighbors, Yusmelis, won a $100 King Soopers gift card, and Sharing with Sheridan received $1,000 in food credits to put toward responding to their community’s preferences!
We’re grateful for their dedication to listening to neighbors and for their leadership in making pantries more inclusive and culturally responsive. If you’d like to learn more about Building Belonging or the opportunity to receive funding to survey your own community to receive a customized community food preference resource, please reach out to partnersolutions@@foodbankrockies.org and our Community-Centered Innovation team will be in touch!
Recap: Building Belonging Lunch & Learn – Compassion Fatigue (September 23, 2025)
Meredith Lopez led a session on recognizing, preventing, and bouncing back from compassion fatigue. This is especially relevant for professionals and volunteers. Attendees explored the difference between compassion fatigue and burnout, common warning signs, and were given a four-part resilience toolkit walking them through such topics as self-care beyond “spa day” basics, having a healthy mindset and positive self-talk, building strong support systems, and regulating one’s nervous-system. Participants shared real-life strategies to set work boundaries, bedtime routines, dog-walk rituals, and screen-time limits. Meredith closed with resources and a simple weekly challenge: pick one small action, write it down, and ask someone to hold you accountable.
Quick Takeaways
- Notice your “big 3” early signs (body, behavior, emotion) and intervene sooner.
- Protect time off: turn off notifications and schedule true breaks.
- Try a 2-minute box-breathing reset before/after service hours.
- Use the free ProQOL tool to check fatigue/burnout/satisfaction levels.
Watch the session recording here: https://youtu.be/g48ChmrW__o
Why it matters: Centering staff and volunteer well-being improves service quality and aligns with Feeding America best practices and client-centered, dignity-forward pantries.
Food Sourcing Update
Local Purchasing
We are so excited to announce that we have received state funding to purchase local Colorado agricultural products to be distributed to partners at NO COST! Look for these free local items, including eggs, ground beef, fresh milk, and, of course, produce, on Agency Express. We love this opportunity to source from our local agricultural partners and provide fresh local products to our neighbors and communities!
Shifts in Inventory during the Distribution Center Transition
To help facilitate a speedy and smooth move to our new distribution center, we will be temporarily allowing some items in our inventory to go out of stock and then restocking these items at the new building. We will ensure that major staple items are still stocked, but you may see less variety across some categories (for example, 2-3 types of canned fruit, rather than 5-6 types). Once the move to the new distribution center is complete, we will replenish our full scope of inventory as quickly as possible. If you have any questions, please reach out to Partner Solutions at partnersolutions@foodbankrockies.org.
Thanksgiving
The holiday season is upon us! We have the following Thanksgiving items available on Agency Express now: corn muffin mix, canned sweet potatoes, stuffing, instant potatoes, cranberry sauce, canned gravy, cream of mushroom soup, canned green beans, and canned corn. For protein options, we are offering frozen whole turkeys and, for the first time ever per partner request, turkey breasts for smaller households! And, of course, we will also have fresh produce to complete neighbors’ holiday tables! For Christmas, we will also have smoked frozen hams. For details on any of these holiday items, reach out to Partner Solutions at partnersolutions@foodbankrockies.org.
Community Job Listings
Arapahoe Food Security Coalition – Community Engagement Specialist
The Community Engagement Specialist will serve as the coalition director for the Arapahoe Food Security Coalition (arapahoefoodsecuritycoalition.org) and lead its efforts to reduce food insecurity across Arapahoe County. This role involves guiding the coalition’s strategic plan in partnership with a diverse network of members united in their mission to eliminate hunger. Please click here to learn more and apply.